English professor earns Professor of the Year

Brockport English professor Dr. Anne Panning is at it again. For her continued commitment to Brockport students, Panning has been named the 2009 New York Professor of the Year by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.According to the Web site established for the awards, Panning is one of 38 winners in the country. Nominees are judged in four categories, which include a candidate's impact on students, support from colleagues and students, a candidate's approach to teaching and learning and a candidate's contributions to the institution, community and profession.

Nominees are judged by deans, professors, education reporters and government and foundation representatives. Due to the award's demanding criteria, not every eligible state and jurisdiction will have a winner each year.

For Panning, the award is added to a long list of accomplishments, which include winning the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2006 and the 2009 Lillian Fairchild Award in September. Students say Panning's personable teaching style makes her classes highly rewarding.

"She lets her students see a part of who she is as a person, a mother and a writer, and this makes it easy to learn from her," said Danielle Barthel, a student of Panning's.

Panning said she learns from students just as much as they learn from her. She said she truly enjoys the diversity of Brockport students, and added that she thinks students have helped her become a better educator. Dr. Roger Kurtz, chair of the English department, said Panning's recognition is an honor both for Panning and the college as a whole.

"I think this is a great thing for Brockport," Kurtz said. "Give credit to Anne and also give credit to Brockport for being a place where she has been able to develop these skills."

Along with her responsibilities as a professor, Panning is the co-director of the Brockport Writers Forum. She has also published a variety of fiction and creative nonfiction stories, and Kurtz said her accomplishments made her a highly qualified candidate for the award.

"It's a tremendous honor, but I can't say it's too much of a surprise," Kurtz said. "She has established herself as a member of the department and a nationally recognized writer. Those of us who have been working with her know how qualified she is."

In her position with the Writers Forum, Panning has helped to bring in authors to share their ideas and works with students. Panning said the task is time consuming but highly rewarding.

Barthel said Panning is always willing to meet with students about anything they may need. She added that Panning is always looking for ways to help students excel, and Panning said one of her favorite aspects of teaching is seeing her students succeed.

"I've seen students start from ground zero and then start to flourish," she said. "To see what impact you can really have on a person, to see them grow and change and succeed; I love that."

Panning will be teaching one section of Recent American Literature and two sections of Writers Craft next semester.