Chemistry Professor Greg Ferrence Illinois Professor of the Year

Illinois State University Professor of Chemistry Gregory M. Ferrence is the 2009 Illinois Professor of the Year. The U.S. Professors of the Year program selects one undergraduate instructor in each state who excels in teaching and mentoring.

 "Greg has a long record of teaching innovation in chemistry," said Interim Chemistry Department Chair John Baur. "Being named Professor of the Year in Illinois is further recognition of his commitment to excellence in teaching and reflects the outstanding quality of education in the Chemistry Department and at Illinois State University."

Ferrence received his bachelor's degree in 1991 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, his Ph.D. in 1996 from Purdue University, and completed postdoctoral work at the University of Alberta and Los Alamos National Laboratory. In 2008. He won an Illinois State University Outstanding University Teacher award after being named a College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding College Teacher. Ferrence has been published extensively in scientific journals, including Chemical Communication, Journal of Organometallic Chemistry, Organic Letters and Acta Crystallographica.

The award program is sponsored by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Recipients must demonstrate excellence in impact and involvement with undergraduate student;, scholarly approach to teaching and learning; contribution to undergraduate education in the institution, community, and profession; and support from colleagues and current and former undergraduate students.

"To be selected as the Illinois Professor of the Year is a tremendous honor," said Ferrence. "I was proud to be Illinois State's nominee, particularly given the many truly outstanding faculty here."