The 2018-2019 recipient of the Kreider Prize for Teaching Excellence is Michele Kozimor ’93, Associate Professor of Sociology.
“I am honored to be recognized for this award by those individuals (students, alumni, faculty, and staff) who have been a source of joy and meaning in my life,” Kozimor said. “I also feel privileged and grateful to be counted among the inspirational mentors and teachers represented by the Kreider Prize including Dr. J. Kenneth Kreider and Carroll L. Kreider.”
The Professional Development Committee chose Kozimor from nominations submitted by alumni, current students, faculty and staff. In addition to receiving a monetary award, Kozimor will be recognized in the 2019 Commencement program, honored at Convocation in August and invited to deliver the Kreider Prize Lecture on October 10.
“The Review Committee is pleased to recommend Dr. Kozmior based on her strong and positive impact on the campus community, her exemplary scholarship of teaching and learning, and her designing of enriched course experiences while building lifelong relationships with students,” Chair of the Professional Development Committee Shannon Haley-Mize said.
“Receiving the Kreider Prize pays tribute to the faculty mentors I had as an undergraduate student at Elizabethtown College,” said Kozimor. “Those mentors provided me with valuable research, teaching, and vocational opportunities, but most importantly, they gave me the courage to teach.”
Student reviewers commended Kozimor’s varied and accomplished work as a teacher-scholar. They identified her impactful first-year seminars as one of the many ways she encourages and empowers students to strengthen skills that ensure their success in college and beyond.
“I hope to inspire students at Elizabethtown College to be active participants in society and to employ the sociological perspective in their daily life,” Kozimor said.
Kozimor is being recognized for her positive impact on the campus community, her exemplary scholarship of teaching and learning, and for designing enriched course experiences while building lifelong relationships with students.
About the Kreider Prize
Through the generosity of Thomas Conner ’72, professor of history at Hillsdale College, the annual award is made possible and awarded to a current Elizabethtown College faculty member for excellence in teaching and mentoring. The award is named in honor of J. Kenneth Kreider, professor of history emeritus, and Carroll L. Kreider, professor of business emerita, “for their inspirational service to countless students at Elizabethtown College.” The Kreiders were not only inspirational in the classroom but also were powerful mentors and role models.