Classics professor wins Excellence in Teaching Award

APRIL 20, 2012
by Tina Underwood, Media Relations

Dr. Anne Leen

GREENVILLE, S.C.—Furman University Classics professor Anne Leen has been awarded a 2012 Excellence in Teaching Award from the South Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities (SCICU) organization. Recipients were honored in April at a special recognition dinner, and each was awarded a $3,000 professional development grant.

SCICU annually recognizes one faculty member from each of its 20 member schools. Previous winners from Furman are Victoria Turgeon (biology), Scott Henderson (education), Lloyd Benson (history), Brannon Andersen (earth and environmental sciences), Gil Einstein (psychology) and Elizabeth Smith (political science).

Leen joined the Furman faculty in 1981 and teaches Latin, Greek and Classics. She earned a bachelor’s at Smith College and a doctorate from the University of Cincinnati. Furman President Rodney Smolla applauded her “ability to make the old fresh and interesting.” Vice president of academic affairs John Beckford said, “Under Anne’s instruction, students find relevance, application, and fascination with classical literature and language.”

Throughout her teaching career, Leen has illuminated students’ study of antiquity through co-curricular activities and guided research. Her methods for engaging students in the use of ancient primary sources resulted in the production of a catalog of more than 700 ancient coins donated to Furman. The project produced an historical essay, high quality digital images of each coin, and a searchable digital database in Furman’s Special Collections.

For an intermediate Latin class, students produced original translations and commentaries on Roman funerary inscriptions. Students’ work was showcased at Furman’s annual student research symposium, published in the “Online Companion to the Worlds of Roman Women,” and presented at the American Classical League’s Annual Conference.

To further students’ understanding of Roman history and literature, Leen co-developed a new study abroad program to Italy where she introduced 23 Furman students from ten different majors to ancient history.

For more information, contact Furman’s media relations office at (864) 294-3107.