The Inaugural John K. Alexander Teaching Award

At the end of Spring semester 2013, the Department of History presented History PhD candidate Matthew Stanley with the inaugural John K. Alexander Graduate Teaching Award.  Stanley, who defended his dissertation in April, taught two courses for the department in 2012-2013: an undergraduate research seminar focused on race in America and a freshman seminar on the Civil War in American memory.  In nominating Stanley for the award, his doctoral adviser, Professor Christopher Phillips, praised Stanley as a wonderfully effective teacher, noting in particular his impressive talent for “asking thoughtful questions that evoke good responses.”

PhD Candidate Matthew Stanley

This new teaching award honors the distinguished career of John K. Alexander, who joined the Department of History in 1969 and taught UC students for 43 years before retiring as Professor Emeritus in 2012.  Over his long career, Dr. Alexander was an extraordinarily devoted and gifted teacher whose American history lectures inspired literally thousands of undergraduates, while also offering graduate seminars that guided dozens of Masters and PhD students toward their own successful teaching careers. 

The Graduate Studies Committee identified Stanley as an especially suitable recipient of the award because of his dedication to teaching and to the pedagogical mission of the department, which very much mirrors that showed by Dr. Alexander during his many years of teaching in our halls.  Going forward, the department plans to make this award on an annual basis.  Those interested in supporting this new award honoring Dr. Alexander’s commitment to excellence in history education can contact Chris Eden at the A&S Office of Development(513.556.0912 or Christopher.Eden@uc.edu).