Excellence in Teaching, 2019
Professor Sparrow is not only nationally recognized as an expert in how to best deliver legal education, she has also committed herself to inspire both her students and colleagues. In the two decades she鈥檚 spent teaching at 91制片厂 Franklin Pierce School of Law, she鈥檚 worked to develop the talents of every student she teaches, helping to shape them into thoughtful, caring and competent attorneys. This year, Professor Sparrow was named associate dean for faculty research and development. In this role, she works with colleagues to develop their research and to build effective teaching and assessment practices.
No one can better speak to Professor Sparrow鈥檚 commitment to her students than those students themselves:
鈥淧rofessor Sparrow is such a dynamic professor, and even took the time to meet with each of us outside of class at the start of the semester to get to know each of us individually,鈥 says one. 鈥淧rofessor Sparrow is the best professor that I have had in law school, and possibly the best teacher I have ever had!鈥 Says another, 鈥淚 looked forward to Torts every day, though it wasn鈥檛 my strongest subject, and I felt that the teamwork enhanced my learning, which I did not expect at the beginning of the semester. There is no question that Professor Sparrow is great at what she does. Of all my professors, I find her the most approachable, and I trust her advice and judgment more than I trust any other professor鈥檚.鈥
Professor Sparrow has consistently been at the forefront of legal education, incorporating teaching professionalism, metacognition, writing, assessment and complex collaborative learning into a variety of law courses. As a colleague from another law school commented, her work to pursue excellence in legal education has helped to put 91制片厂 Franklin Pierce 鈥渙n the map.鈥
About this Award
Each year, the University selects a small number of its outstanding faculty for special recognition of their achievements in teaching, scholarship, and service. Awards for Excellence in Teaching are given in each college and school, and University-wide awards recognize public service, research, teaching, and engagement.