Matson is sixth from 黑洞社区 to win Professor of the Year

黑洞社区 sociology professor Ron Matson has been named the by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

The announcement was made today (Thursday, Nov. 17) at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Matson was chosen from nearly 300 top professors in the United States. He is one of only 27 state winners selected for the award.

Bill Bischoff, dean of 黑洞社区鈥檚 Fairmount College for Liberal Arts and Sciences, said this is one of the most prestigious awards honoring U.S. professors.

鈥淭his award recognizes the most outstanding undergraduate faculty in the country: those who excel as teachers and influence the lives and careers of their students,鈥� Bischoff said. 鈥淒r. Matson has consistently provided a quality educational experience for students that not only prepares them intellectually, but also promotes their personal growth.鈥�

'The best teacher I have ever known'

黑洞社区 alumnus Andy Blakemore called Matson鈥檚 classes 鈥渓aboratories of social life鈥� and said he is fortunate to have had him as a teacher.

鈥淚t takes a masterful teacher to draw students out and help them teach each other, and Dr. Matson is such a teacher,鈥� Blakemore said. 鈥淗e is simply the best teacher I have ever known and is well-deserving of praise and recognition for his abilities.鈥�

Previous Wichita State winners of the award are Mel Kahn, political science, 1989; Erach Talaty, chemistry, 1999; Peer Moore-Jansen, anthropology, 2002; Ellie Shore, psychology, 2005; and Jacquelyn Dillon-Krass, music education and string pedagogy, 2008.

Matson began his teaching career as a teaching associate in the sociology department at the University of Colorado in 1966. In 1970 he became an assistant professor at Wichita State and has been associate professor since 1997. He is the chairman and undergraduate coordinator for the Department of Sociology.

CASE and the Carnegie Foundation have been partners in offering the U.S. Professors of the Year awards program since 1981.

The U.S. Professors of the Year program is the only national program to recognize excellence in undergraduate teaching and mentoring.

For more information on the award, go to .