Fall 2004

Cassandra Fraser, Cavaliers’ Distinguished Teaching Professor

The Cavaliers' Distinguished Teaching Professorship was established in 1991 to recognize an eminent scholar for outstanding teaching of undergraduates. In addition to receiving a monetary award, Cavaliers' DTPs teach University Seminars and work with the Teaching Resource Center to promote the general enhancement of teaching at the University. Teaching Concerns highlights this year's winner, Cassandra Fraser of the Department of Chemistry.

Cassandra Fraser writes, "Learning is at once an individual and communal pursuit. The insights that are gained, the connections that are made, and the relationships that grow can be powerful and enduring." Cassandra's interdisciplinary approach helps her students see the connections between seemingly distinct fields of knowledge, as they learn not only about scientific concepts but also about the major local, national, and global issues these concepts underlie.

In the process, Cassandra works to "cultivate an atmosphere of hospitality, a compassionate safe zone if you will, where my students can work out who they are— intellectually, personally, professionally, even spiritually—and receive encouragement and support when they need it." She does so without sacrificing rigor, assigning challenging end-of-semester projects similar to tasks students might encounter in an upper-level undergraduate or even a graduate class (for instance, writing a scientific proposal or doing a total synthesis of a molecule). In this way, she pushes students to achieve their potential in meaningful ways.

During her tenure as Cavaliers' DTP, Cassandra will work with the TRC, writing articles for Teaching Concerns, offering workshops, and continuing to develop the Designing Matter Common Course, a university-wide forum and large-scale experiment in science curriculum reform, which synthesizes many of her teaching and research interests.