Harvey To Receive Alumni Teaching Fellow Award

4-3-97

University Park, Pa. -- Paul Harvey Jr., associate professor of history and classics and ancient Mediterranean studies at Penn State's University Park campus, will receive the University's Alumni Teaching Fellow Award at the annual Faculty/Staff Awards Program at 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 6, at the Penn State Scanticon Conference Hotel.

Dr. Harvey is described as a superb teacher of ancient history and a valued mentor by undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty colleagues alike. His colleagues in particular praise Harvey for his encyclopedic knowledge and his ability to link ancient texts and issues to problems of modern society -- for instance, using the economic and social impact of disbanding the Roman army in the 2nd century B.C.E. to illuminate similar problems created in modern times when wars end or armies shrink.

"I don't know that I have a formal teaching philosophy," says Harvey, "but there are certain principles I attempt to maintain and certain practices I attempt to follow in my teaching. These include maintaining rigorous academic standards in every class while engaging students in a friendly, informal fashion that encourages discussion and questions. In my experience, neither a false camaraderie nor an authoritarian stance is conducive to an effective learning environment, whatever the size of the class."

Established in 1985 to honor distinguished teaching and to encourage teaching excellence, the award was first presented in 1986 by the Alumni Association, the Undergraduate Student Government and the Graduate Student Government.

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Contacts: Alan Janesch (814) 865-7517 (office) axj12@psu.edu
Christy Rambeau (814) 865-7517 (office) cmr7@psu.edu