Classics professor selected for teaching excellence award

Peter Anderson, associate professor of Classics, received a Collegiate Teaching Excellence Award at the American Philological Association Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, on January 8. The APA is the principal learned society in North America for the study of ancient Greek and Roman languages, literatures, and civilizations.

The association noted that Anderson has inspired his students, his colleagues, and the larger Classics community through his commitment to innovative teaching and to fostering intellect. A scholar of Seneca the Younger and Martial, Anderson brings to his classes the best qualities of each author:  philosophical and contemplative thought together with wit and literary knowledge. 

Charles Pazdernik, department chair, praised Anderson for his insight as well as the grace with which he delivers it. “He has become an object of fascination for his students — and the subject of a Facebook page dedicated to his quips and classroom exploits — without seeking to foster a cult of personality or playing to the crowd,” he said.

In 2009, Anderson received Grand Valley’s Pew Teaching Excellence Award, and was the Margo Tytus Visiting Fellow at the University of Cincinnati. He has published several articles on teaching Latin, and is the author of a report on state standards for Latin teaching for the Michigan Department of Education, and criteria and items for the statewide Latin certification exam.