Professor of philosophy Dr. Steven Emmanuel, has received the 2018 Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council of Higher Education. On Jan. 30, 2018 President Scott D. Miller congratulated Emmanuel in his annual Nota Bene, on his accomplishment and stated that “We are immensely proud of his accomplishments and grateful for his contributions to Virginia Wesleyan University.”
The Outstanding Faculty Award is sponsored by Dominion Energy. The award is the Commonwealth’s highest honor for faculty at Virginia public and private colleges and universities. The goal of the award is to recognize excellence in teaching, research and service among distinguished faculty. This year’s committee received 83 nominations. The group was narrowed to 27 finalists, and Dr. Emmanuel was selected as one of 12 award recipients.
“When I first heard about the award my mind immediately went to all the things that make it possible. Anything that we accomplish as educators really depends on having a place we can do those things,” said Emmanuel. “A place where we can flourish to do those things. A place where we have great colleagues and students who inspire us.”
According to the Nota Bene, Provost and Vice President Timothy O’Rourke referred to Professor Emmanuel in his nomination letter as the “quintessential teacher-scholar” and “a person of uncommon ability, good spirit, integrity and civic commitment.”
“It’s not about me. I am very glad to have received the award, but at the end of the day, I am only able to receive that award because I have a great home here at Virginia Wesleyan with enormous support and encouragement. Great colleagues and inspiring students,” said Emmanuel.
During his time at Virginia Wesleyan, Dr. Emmanuel has demonstrated an impressive record of teaching, research, publication and service. He has served as chair of the Humanities Division and chair of the campus chapter of the American Association of University Professors. Emmanuel is an Affiliate Teacher with the the Harvard Pluralism Project, and for the past 10 years has maintained a weekly group session for teens at a local crisis shelter, to name two of his more recent projects. Despite all of his accolades and community involvement, Emmanuel gives credit to the institution for his success.
“I don’t think of the award primarily in terms of what it does for me, but what it says about the institution,” said Emmanuel.
Along with being awarded the 2018 Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council of Higher Education, Emmanuel has received VWU’s Sara Rose Award for leadership in service learning, the Samuel Nelson Gray Award, Virginia Wesleyan’s highest award for distinguished faculty, and is the author or editor of over six books.
Amanda Archer
acarcher@vwu.edu
