Press Release

Contact: Debra Humphreys
Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs
202-387-3760
Humphreys@aacu.org

Ten Graduate Students Honored with K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Awards

Students Recognized for Commitment to Academic and Civic Responsibility and Promise as Future Leaders of Higher Education

Washington, DC -- January 2, 2008 -- The Association of American Colleges and Universities recently announced the 2008 recipients of the annual K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Awards.  These awards recognize graduate students who are committed to developing academic and civic responsibility in themselves and others, and who show exemplary promise as future leaders of higher education.

The 2008 recipients are:

Thomas Eatmon, Jr., Public Policy, Southern University
Andrew Farke, Vertebrate Anatomy / Paleontology, Stony Brook University
Kyle Gobrogge, Neuroscience, Florida State University
Frances Gratacos, Molecular Biology, UMDNJ/Rutgers
Jennifer Lavy, Theatre History and Criticism, University of Washington
Christine Reiser, Anthropology, Brown University
Paul Rogers, Education, University of California, Santa Barbara
Cindy Spurlock, Communication Studies, University of North Carolina
Kimberly Van Orman, Philosophy, University at Albany, SUNY
Dumaine Williams, Pharmacology, Stony Brook University

These individuals were chosen from a pool of more than 150 nominations and, through a rigorous application process, demonstrated their leadership ability or potential for exercising leadership in teaching and learning, and a strong commitment to academic and civic responsibility.

“Each year I am inspired by the enthusiasm and promise the nominees possess,” said K. Patricia Cross.  “Although we had to choose only ten recipients, each applicant deserves to be recognized for his or her commitment to students, teaching, and leadership.  The fact is that we simply have an over supply of talent and commitment – something that our society will reap the benefits of for many generations.”     

“The rigor of the awardees’ academic work and the contributions to their community are an excellent representation of our future faculty,” said L. Lee Knefelkamp, senior scholar at AAC&U and professor of psychology and education at Teachers College, Columbia University.  “This award highlights those students who continue Pat Cross’ leadership in advancing underserved students, assessment, collaborative pedagogy, and institutional integrity.  Seeing these future faculty members’ dedication to these important issues gives me great hope for the future of higher education, and recognizing their achievements is a wonderful way to honor the career of Pat Cross.”

Each recipient of this award will attend the annual meeting of AAC&U, Intentional Learning, Unscripted Challenges: Knowledge and Imagination for an Interdependent World, from January 23-26, 2008, where they will be honored at the Opening Plenary.  They will also be presenters in the session, “Faculty of the Future: Voices from the Next Generation -- A Conversation with the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders.” The Cross awardees will participate in other sessions and meetings throughout the conference.

For information about AAC&U, its annual meeting, or the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award, visit www.aacu.org.

AAC&U is the leading national association concerned with the quality, vitality, and public standing of undergraduate liberal education. Its members are committed to extending the advantages of a liberal education to all students, regardless of academic specialization or intended career. Founded in 1915, AAC&U now comprises more than 1,200 member institutions—including accredited public and private colleges and universities of every type and size.

AAC&U functions as a catalyst and facilitator, forging links among presidents, administrators, and faculty members who are engaged in institutional and curricular planning. Its mission is to reinforce the collective commitment to liberal education at both the national and local levels and to help individual institutions keep the quality of student learning at the core of their work as they evolve to meet new economic and social challenges.