BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – West Virginia Wesleyan College honored one of their own during Friday’s Founders Day celebration, announcing the 2018 Exemplary Teacher of the Year as selected by the student body.
Dr. James Moore, Wesleyan’s Dean of Faculty, offered increasingly detailed hints about the surprise winner as he talked about her contributions to campus before revealing that Dr. Joanna Webb had won the 2018 award.
“Students remark that she always tries to relate real-world scenarios to course materials, and that she’s accurate and fair,” Moore said. “They’re particularly appreciative of her teaching style, with one student offering, ‘Her blend of technological videos, written notes and hands-on demonstrations is something that all professors should implement.’
“Perhaps one of the most heartwarming things to see is the use of the word ‘love.’ Students resoundingly love this professor. Comments like, ‘I love this class’ and ‘I love this professor,’ or simply, ‘I love this teacher’ are too numerous to list.”
Moore, who comes from a background in music, admitted he was little ‘miffed’ that he was unaware of Webb’s musical talents, which are on display regularly as part of her church choir.
“I’m also told that she received some sort of directing or conducting award when she was a student, at Spring Sing, when she conducted her sorority. I’ll be interested to see if she puts today’s award above that award on the wall or not,” Moore said to laughs from the audience.
“She’s an accomplished scholar and she brings this to bear in her work in the classroom,” Moore continued. “As a student, she received the outstanding senior chemistry major award, and it seems we have come full circle today. Please join me in congratulating the 2018 West Virginia Wesleyan College Exemplary Teacher of the Year recipient, Dr. Joanna Webb.”
Webb, who received her B.S. degree from Wesleyan and Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, is an associate professor of chemistry. In 2017, she authored a successful grant application for the Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences program. The $120,000 three-year grant provides stipends for Wesleyan students who conduct research projects in the summer months.
