November 24, 2003

Reception Dec. 2 Honors Idaho Professor Of Year Alicia Garza

Boise State Spanish professor Alicia Garza, recently named the 2003 Idaho Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, will be honored at a reception at 5-7 p.m. on Dec. 2 in the Lookout Room of the Student Union Building. Boise State President Bob Kustra and other dignitaries will present Garza with the teaching award during a brief awards presentation at 5:30 p.m. The public is invited. Refreshments will be served. An expert on Latin American and Chicano literature, Garza has developed new university courses, made presentations about Latino issues and culture to community groups in the Treasure Valley, and through her teaching and outreach served as a role model on what can be accomplished through hard work and determination. The daughter of migrant workers, Garza earned a Ph.D. in Hispanic literature from the University of Arizona. She credits her parents with instilling in her the importance of an education and encouraging her dreams. Garza’s selection marks the sixth straight year that a Boise State professor has received the prestigious Professor of the Year Award and the 10th win overall for Boise State. Past recipients include Todd Shallat, history; John Freemuth, political science; Russell Centanni, biology; Pam Gehrke, nursing; Stephanie Witt, political science; Greg Raymond, political science; and Tom Trusky, English, who won three times. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching was founded in 1905 by Andrew Carnegie “to do and perform all things necessary to encourage, uphold and dignify the profession of teaching.” The foundation conducts research and policy studies on teaching and learning. -end- Contact Alicia Garza Spanish 208 426-1049 agarza@boisestate.edu Media contact Janelle Brown communications and marketing 208 426-1790 jbrown2@boisestate.edu