Kate Bruce, professor of psychology and director of the Honors Scholars Program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, was chosen as the 2008 North Carolina Professor of the Year. Administered by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and sponsored by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, these national awards recognize professors for their influence on teaching and their commitment to undergraduate students.

Bruce was recognized during a luncheon in Washington, D.C. in November honoring the state and national winners of the award. In addition to the four national winners, state-level Professors of the Year were recognized in 44 states, the District of Columbia and Guam.

Since joining the faculty at UNCW in 1984, Bruce has served as the founding director of the Center for Support of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships and has been the director of the Honors Scholars Program since 1999. Since that time, the number of students entering the program each year has grown from 75 to 125, and the number of students participating in departmental honors in their academic majors has doubled. In 2007, Bruce served as president of the National Collegiate Honors Council, bringing international attention to UNCW.

In his letter supporting Bruce's nomination, former Provost Paul Hosier wrote, "Dr. Bruce has achieved high leadership status in almost every academic arena she touches. Her peers regard her creative talents, her willingness to share her gifts and her passion for experiential learning as extraordinary." Hosier pointed out several highlights of Bruce's career, including her ability to create lifetime learners through the wide array of course material offered and her advocacy for undergraduate research.

"She seems to have a natural ability to weave an educational experience to achieve maximum impact," Hosier noted.

The award committee particularly looks to recognize individuals whose activities have resulted in sustained campus transformation. The establishment of the Undergraduate Research Symposia is one example of Bruce's transformative leadership at UNCW. The symposia give approximately 100 students the opportunity to participate in conversations and presentations normally reserved for graduate level students. Her development of the Albert Schweitzer Award is another example of her campus and community involvement. Given annually by the UNCW Honors Scholars Program and Randall Library, this award honors a person from the Cape Fear area who exemplifies the attributes or interests of Albert Schweitzer.

Kate Bruce is the third UNCW faculty member to receive this prestigious award. Richard Huber, professor of elementary, middle level and literacy education in the Watson School of Education, and Carole Tallant, professor of communication studies, received the award in 2002 and 2004 respectively. Tracy Hargrove, professor of elementary, middle level and literacy education, was also a UNCW nominee for the 2008 award.

Media contact:
Dana Fischetti, media relations manager, 910.962.7259 or fischettid@uncw.edu