The crowd of Faulkner University students, faculty and staff erupted in roaring applause as Dr. David Rampersad announced Dr. Andrew Jacobs the winner of the Outstanding Educator Award for the 2016-2017 school year during the Faculty Awards Chapel on Thursday.
With a smile, Jacobs accepted the plaque and “golden apple” award and shook Rampersad’s hand.
Jacobs was one of seven faculty members nominated for the award including Cathy Davis, Grover Plunkett, E.L. Perry, Don Myers, Robert Vickrey and Angela Moore.
Rampersad lauded Jacobs on his fervor in invigorating student interest in the Great Books Honors program, which has more than doubled in size since Jacobs became director of the program in 2015.
“The Great Books Honors program had dwindled to 30 students in 2015,” Rampersad said. “That is when I offered Jacobs the directorate of the program. At the time my goal was for him to revive it and by 2020 grow the program to 60 students, which would have been double in size.”
Within the two years since Jacobs assumed directorship, the Great Books Honors program has grown to 79 students, which is a testament to Jacobs’ “collegiality, commitment and diligence,” said Rampersad.
“He has worked tirelessly and collaboratively with enrollment,” Rampersad said. “His students can testify to his selflessness and scholarship, he is admired by the entire campus community and is a wonderful asset to Christian education.”
Jacobs is a 2003 English graduate from Faulkner University and earned his Master’s degree in liberal arts from Auburn Montgomery. He joined the Faulkner University English department in 2006 and began teaching and directing the Faulkner Writing Center. He enrolled in the first Doctorate of philosophy in humanities at Faulkner in 2013.
Other awards were presented at the Faculty Awards Chapel.
Dr. Terry Brown was presented with the Outstanding in Service Award. Dr. Steve Wages and Rayla Black were also nominated.
Dr. David Stark was presented with the Excellence in Scholarly Work Award. Morgan Wilkerson and Justin Bond were also nominated.
Syed Raza was presented with the Outstanding Part-time Faculty Award. Jerry Willis, Jim Coker and Lynne Coker were also nominated.