After 32 years in his role as a biology professor at Southwestern College, Charles Hunter was recognized this month with a distinguished teaching award, the college announced Tuesday.
Hunter, who also serves as chair of the biology department, was named recipient of the Charles H. and Verda R. Kopke Award for Distinguished Teaching during Southwestern College commencement exercises May 6. The Kopkes established the award in order to honor outstanding faculty members.
“We are enormously proud of Dr. Hunter,” said Andy Sheppard, SC dean of faculty. “This award recognizes a lifetime of achievement both in the classroom as a teacher and as a teaching scientist.”
Both students and fellow staff members have made his three decades on the job rewarding, the professor said.
“The quality of student at SC has kept me here,” said Hunter. “It is a great place to work. I love working with my colleagues, especially the ones I work closest with like Pat (Ross), Rick (Cowlishaw), and Mike (Tessmer).
At Southwestern, Hunter has been the recipient of three National Science Foundation teaching grants, two NSF research grants, a Fulbright teaching fellowship to Botswana, Africa and five previous teaching awards. He has been a visiting professor at the University of Oregon’s Institute of Marine Biology on 15 different occasions including this summer.
Hunter is quick to give credit to others for his accomplishments.
“Bob Wimmer helped me a lot,” said Hunter. “My accomplishments are his. Larry Wilgers and I did team teaching and had some interesting innovations. And Dr. Tessmer has taught me the importance of lab. I don’t lecture as much as I used to. My classes are now more lab-driven. I have learned lots from my colleagues.”
Hunter, a Southwestern College graduate, is married to Lynne, also an SC grad. They have three daughters, Jenna, Kaitlin, and Claire.
Southwestern College is a private institution granting undergraduate and graduate degrees and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. More than 1,600 students attend classes at the main Winfield campus, at seven professional studies sites in three states or online at www.sckans.edu.
