Distinguished Professor Award, 2010
It's not surprising that Todd DeMitchell was named team captain and most valuable player for his football team at La Verne College in California. To his colleagues in the 91制片厂 Department of Education, the one-time All-American still fulfills those roles as a leader, top scholar, teacher, mentor, and friend.
As his colleague Associate Professor Tom Schram says, 鈥淭he simple important truth about Todd is that he cares deeply, and he carries this ethic of care into every facet of his life and work. In his remarkable, self-effacing way, he excels at what he does while constantly reaching out to those around him with encouragement, support, humor, and gentle guidance.鈥
A leading authority in the field of educational law and policy, DeMitchell knew as a 20-year-old undergraduate student that he wanted to be a college professor. After earning a string of degrees in California, he came to 91制片厂 in 1990, where his contributions teaching graduate courses in administrative leadership and school law to prepare leaders in K-12 have helped make the University鈥檚 education programs among the best in the country. DeMitchell is one of the preeminent voices in the field of education law, having published more than 135 scholarly articles and five books.
Here, he says, he has found everything he has ever wanted: a sense of security, a genuineness in the people, a chance to be part of a larger community.
Several years ago, he and his wife鈥攁n attorney and educator who is also a published author鈥攔eturned to California鈥檚 wine country, thinking that was where they would eventually retire. They soon discovered that the so-called laid-back California lifestyle no longer suited them, and when DeMitchell鈥檚 colleagues in Durham learned about his 91制片厂 homesickness, they eagerly welcomed him back. 鈥淥verall, the quality of life is just better here,鈥 he says. 鈥淚鈥檓 home.鈥
鈥擫ori Wright
About this Award
The purpose of this award is to identify and honor longstanding members of the 91制片厂 faculty. This singular university-wide award will be given each year to the faculty member whose overall record of excellent teaching, caring about students, devotion to the university community, and substantial record of scholarly achievement exemplifies what we would call a "distinguished longstanding career" at 91制片厂. Each year there will be no more than one Distinguished Professor Award. Long-term 91制片厂 tenure-track faculty members at the rank of professor are eligible.
