Each year, the Pamplin Society of Fellows bestows the Teacher of the Year Award to one undergraduate professor. The award aims to honor faculty members that go above and beyond the duties of their position to enrich student learning. This year, the honor went to Ben David, associate professor of Art History.
Benjamin David specializes in Italian art from 1300-1600, with an emphasis on Early Renaissance painting. His scholarship and teaching engage the historical and theoretical implications of the practice of narrative in Renaissance art and theories of narrative more generally. He is especially interested in the relationship between art and literature.
“Ben is truly an exceptional professor,” Art History and Psychology Major Annabelle Burg BA ’26 said. “He takes time to make sure that all of his students understand what is happening in his classes, and is so incredibly knowledgeable about what he teaches. Ben is the reason that I decided to major in Art History. He inspires students in such a way that makes us actually listen to what he is saying in lecture, and think about it in a way that we haven’t before. His classes are hard, but they are fun, even for students without a background in art. He makes difficult art theories something that students aren’t intimidated by, but instead excited about.”
This year’s finalists included:
- Magalí Rabasa, Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies and Director of Ethnic Studies
- Marie-Eve Thifault, Instructor in World Languages and Literatures
- Meiru Liu, instructor in Chinese
- Greg Hermann, professor of Biology
- Suparna Chaudhry, Associate Professor of International Affairs
The L&C Teacher of the Year award is entirely driven in all aspects by undergraduate students. A call is issued in early March for students at the college to write nomination letters for faculty members that have played a dynamic role in students’ academic lives. These letters are then reviewed by a selection committee composed entirely of students.
