U. awards profs for superior teaching

Sociology Professor Ivar Berg and Physics and Astronomy Professor Philip Nelson are this year's recipients of the coveted School of Arts and Sciences Ira Abrams Memorial Award for Distinguished Teaching. The annual award, now in its 17th year, is the highest teaching honor given by the school. Professors are nominated for the award by their peers and through student letters. The final decision is made by a five-member faculty committee. SAS Dean Samuel Preston said the award is given to professors who excel at promoting learning in SAS classes. "It is a combination of very good course organization, of presentation, of communication to students and a certain unmeasurable factor of connection with students," Preston said. Berg has worked at Penn since 1979, and has served as the Sociology Department chairman and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as dean of the social sciences. "When I first heard about the award, I thought someone was playing a joke on me," Berg said. "I was very surprised. I had no idea that it was in the works." Berg said he believes this award represents the connections he has made with his students over the years. "Teaching is a funny thing at a research university," Berg said. "I think it's something that we also aspire to do well. I think winning a teaching prize shows that your message registers with students." Preston said Berg has earned the reputation of being an inspirational professor who cares about his students. "Ivar Berg has been an extraordinarily dedicated mentor to undergraduates at Penn for 20-plus years," Preston said. "I think he has a reputation as being absolutely eye-opening in his seminars." Prior to arriving at Penn, Berg served as dean of the faculties at Columbia University and taught at Vanderbilt University. He said that although he has always coveted teaching awards, the work he does in the classroom means more to him than any prize. "You sort of hope that if you've got 50 or 60 students in a lecture course, that light will go on over their heads once or twice over the semester," Berg said. Nelson, who received his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1984, began teaching at Penn in 1988. He said he believes the true measure of his success is the work of his students. "I think there's a synergy between a professor and students," Nelson said. "A lot of what you put in depends on what electricity you feel. "What flashes through my mind is all of these great students I've had," Nelson added. Physics and Astronomy Department Chairman Paul Langacker said Nelson has made an immediate impact, pushing the department to focus on more modern, innovative concepts. "He's been a fantastic teacher, not only in the sense of the classroom, but also in inventing new courses," Langacker said. "I think he's done a fantastic job in generating interest in the new cutting edge technologies." Last year's award winners were History Professor Bruce Kuklick and Classical Studies Professor Jeremy McInerney.