AU Sociology Professor Earns Teaching Award

AURORA, Ill, May 21, 2007 - Barbara Strassberg of Chicago, professor of sociology at Aurora University, received the 2007 Marcus and Mark H. Trumbo Excellence in Teaching award, AU’s top faculty honor, at 114th annual commencement ceremonies May 5.

Provost Andrew Manion presented her award. Strassberg was selected from nominees submitted by faculty and students, recommendations from AU academic deans, and a committee of former Trumbo award recipients.

Selection criteria are the ability to motivate students to intellectual activity, concern for values that give purpose and meaning to life, and the ability to accept students whatever their state of intellectual, social, or spiritual development. Other criteria are being friendly, sympathetic, and available to students; encouraging self-expression of students while teaching the tools and skills of scholarship, and communicating and imparting to students a personal enthusiasm for learning.

The award includes a $1,000 grant. Former Aurora College Dean and Mrs. Mark H. Trumbo established the award in 1976 in memory of Mark’s father, Marcus Trumbo.

Strassberg, professor in the AU sociology program, joined the AU faculty in 1991. Her academic interests focus on the sociology of culture, especially on issues of ethics, human rights, social justice, science and religion, and interdisciplinary scholarship.

In 1982, she received an award from the Polish Academy of Sciences for her book on assimilation of Polish immigrants in Chicago. In 1984, she was awarded a grant by the American Council of Learned Societies to continue her research in the United States.

Strassberg earned master’s and doctorate degrees from the Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. She also completed a doctoral program at Ecole Superieure des Hautes Etudes, in Paris, France, and continued her postdoctoral studies at the University of Chicago.

She is the author of two books, more than 100 articles, book chapters, book reviews, and conference papers. Her most recent articles published in Zygon are devoted to ethics and global health challenges, such as the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and organ transplantation.

- END -