Lindback Awards--for members of the standing faculty--and Provost's Awards--given since 1988 to full- and part-time associated faculty and academic support staff--are as much a sign of spring at Penn as are al fresco classes on College Green and flowers and trees blooming all over campus.

Lindback & Provost's Awards
Sketches of the 2002 Winners

Charles Dana Tomlin, Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning

Dr. Charles Dana Tomlin joined the faculty of the Graduate School of Fine Arts in 1991. Three years ago, he won the GSFA award for the most distinguished teacher. "He is widely regarded as a leading pioneer in the field of Geographic Information Systems." His students write appreciatively about his passion for teaching and his creativity in the classroom: "The creativity he fosters in his students enables them to think about solutions in ways previously unconsidered. This is why Penn's Geographic Information Systems students are the world's best." Letters from former students, while attesting to his skill as a lecturer, repeatedly mentioned his role as a mentor noting: "I can honestly say that having Dr. Tomlin as a professor changed the course of my career;" "he has provided guidance and support throughout my career;" "it isn't often you meet someone who significantly affects the academic and career path you have chosen. Dr. Tomlin is one such person." A former teacher describes him as "the single best person that I know of in combining effectiveness as both teacher and researcher. He is ‘World Class' and I support him wholeheartedly for this award."

Jennifer Morse, Mathematics

Dr. Jennifer Morse began teaching in the Math Department as a lecturer in 1999 and immediately became a presence in the Department. Last year, she revitalized the chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon, the Math Honor Society, which has been active on campus in a number of activities including a series of undergraduate math seminars, math films, and career recruitment meetings. She has also developed a new course that gets Penn students involved in teaching mathematics in University City High School. This course also received accolades not just from Penn students but, from high school students, teachers and administrators. One of her students reports that it is her ability to explain difficult concepts that makes her a truly distinguished professor, "throughout the course I had several "aha" experiences when suddenly everything clicked." Another remarks, "It was truly beneficent of Dr. Morse to meet with me and instruct me on her own time when I wasn't even in her course." Students worked extremely hard because they did not want to disappoint her. A former student wrote, "Dr. Morse deserves this award. She is truly the best teacher I have ever had."

Dr. Joseph Bernstein received his A.B. from Columbia University and his M.D. from Cornell University Medical College. He joined the Penn faculty in 1991. He is already the recipient of both the Outstanding Teacher Award and the Penn Pearls Teaching Award from the Medical School. Almost 40 letters were received attesting to Dr. Bernstein's influence and impact on medical education. A colleague wrote: "In his role as curriculum architect, teacher, and educational champion, Dr. Bernstein serves as a distinguished, articulate, and a truly inspiring mentor not only to students but to his peers and orthopaedic colleagues alike." Another notes, "Dr. Bernstein always seemed to find a way to encourage me to work a little harder, think a little longer, and produce a better piece of writing." Colleagues repeatedly mentioned his dedication and report that he has "taken the educational experience for medical student to the next level." Finally, a former medical student and resident e-mailed his response while currently deployed in the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Enduring Freedom: "The mail has been slow and I wanted to make sure this committee had input from one of Dr. Bernstein's students. I can state without reservation that he truly epitomizes the character and spirit of this award."

Dr. Marc Levine received his Bachelors and his M.D. from the University of Michigan and joined the faculty of the Medical School in 1982. Students frequently refer to Dr. Levine as "inspiring;" "The best lecturer I ever had." A colleague writing in support of his nomination states: "Dr. Levine meticulously prepares his lectures to be interactive, informative, simple to understand and entertaining." His lectures are delivered with an "impish humor and a twinkle in his eye." The course evaluations for Dr. Levine are equally stellar, describing him as a "dynamic speaker;" "humorous and informative;" "great, wish he gave more lectures;" "interactive, useful." Dr. Levine is an outstanding educator at the medical student, resident, fellow, national and international level. His colleagues repeatedly noted with some envy that Dr. Levine's enthusiasm for teaching never seems to diminish and several use the word "passion" to describe his extraordinary commitment to teaching and to his students. A colleague concludes "Marc is that rarest of teachers, one who can leave a lasting mark on his trainees, inspiring them to pursue their own careers in academic medicine." Dr. Levine has been the model of the Clinician Educator and truly deserving of the Lindback Award.

Dr. Terri Lipman has been a faculty member at the School of Nursing since 1992 after receiving degrees from Temple and a Ph.D. from Penn. Students describe her classes as "articulate and analytical, and her presentations as knowledgeable, positive, and motivating." A former student noted: "I have been taught by some of the best instructors Penn Nursing has to offer in the past 20 years. Dr. Lipman's teaching is unparalleled and her humanity as a teacher provided me with my richest learning experience at Penn." Besides being an advocate and teacher she encourages nurses to become more involved in publication and research. The integration of practice and teaching is central to her approach and she constantly works on ways to develop and maintain relationships with families and staff. One family whose child was a patient of Terri's wrote: "Terri has been a nurse, teacher, doctor, therapist, and counselor but, most of all, a friend. She has taught us how to be confident parents of a child with diabetes." A Penn undergraduate, who did an independent study with Dr. Lipman on her diabetes registry, was subsequently awarded a Fulbright to develop a diabetes registry in Ecuador. Dr. Lipman is truly deserving of the Lindback Award.

Dr. Uri Hangorsky received his B.S. from McGill University and his D.D.S. from Columbia University Dental School. He joined the Penn faculty in 1980 and he is currently the director of the Predoctoral Program in Periodontics at the School of Dental Medicine and the recipient of the T. Appleton Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching. Although he is only a part-time faculty member, Dr. Hangorsky has one of the largest teaching loads of the entire faculty. The Medical School Lindback Committee was overwhelmed by the amount of teaching, not to mention the glowing student evaluations of this individual." A student writing in support of his nomination states: "Since Dr. Hangorsky has been instructing at the University of Pennsylvania, he has been a key contributor to the way that every dental school graduate from this school practices." His students do exceptionally well on national boards; he constructs packets containing possible board questions on his own time, which is always helpful for students; he takes every opportunity to teach. Dr. Hangorsky is also especially attuned to the learning styles of his students and adapts accordingly whether in a large lecture, small seminar, or one-on-one discussion. "As a future doctor who wants to pursue a career in academia, I can attest that Dr. Hangorsky is someone who has had an impact on my career."