Adams wins Golden Apple award for teaching

Envelope please. Drum roll. And the winner of the 1998 Golden Apple is ... Well, it hasn't been officially announced yet.

But on April 6, economics Prof. Jim Adams will be recognized by students as their top professor.

"I'm deeply gratified being selected and put in such great company," Adams said. "Being among great teachers ... took my breath away."

The Golden Apple, an award sponsored by Hillel that recognizes excellent undergraduate teaching, is given annually based on student nominations. The program is organized by Students Honoring Outstanding University Teaching, a division of Hillel.

"It is an extraordinarily good choice," said economics Prof. Gary Saxonhouse. "He has a long-standing commitment to excellence in teaching and is a model for everyone else in the economics department and University."

EMILY NATHAN/Daily This year's Golden Apple Award winner, economics professor Jim Adams, instructs students in his honors seminar yesterday.

Students submitted nominations either by e-mail or by ballot. The SHOUT committee then went over the nominations, choosing the winner based on quantity and quality.

"The length and passion with which the nominations were written was taken into account along with number each candidate received," said SHOUT Chair Heidi Lubin.

The Golden Apple has been awarded for eight years. Previous winners include history Prof. Sidney Fine, English and religion Prof. Ralph Williams and biology Prof. Eric Mann.

"Usually the professor is very delighted to receive this award," Lubin said. "It is pretty prestigious, and because it is student-sponsored, (winners) take it very seriously."

Adams will be presented with the award during a ceremony at 7:30 p.m. on April 6 in Rackham Auditorium. The winner also receives $1,000.

The ceremony will include the delivery of Adams' "ideal last lecture" in front of students, faculty and community members who wish to attend.

In the past, professors have given humorous and personal lectures.

"We invite everyone to attend," Lubin said. "It will be fun, and I'm sure Adams will be very interesting."

Adams has been teaching at the University since 1974 after teaching for one year at Harvard University. He graduated from Harvard summa cum laude in 1969 and then went on to receive his Ph.D. in economics.

He attributes his decision to work at the University to Ann Arbor's community nature and his desire for change after attending school and teaching in Cambridge.

He has published a book titled "Restructuring the French Economy."

This will not be the first award at the University for Adams. He won the Thurnau Professorship in 1991.

"I think it's just wonderful that Jim Adams has been recognized once again as an outstanding undergraduate educator," said LSA Dean Edie Goldenberg.

Students praise Adams for his clear and interesting lectures, as well as his open and personable attitude.

"I think he deserves the award," said LSA senior Dan Goldstein. "I've been going here four years and he's clearly the best prof. I've ever had."

Students also praised Adams for his willingness to be accessible to students beyond class time.

"He is very helpful in giving individual attention," said LSA senior Paris Cleanthous. "He has many office hours and his door is almost always open and will even talk about problems that aren't connected to the class persay."

02-26-98