In the past decade alone, the Department of Philosophy has won five major teaching awards, including four Louis and Dorina Brutocao Awards for Teaching Excellence—the highest teaching honor conferred upon an SCU faculty member by the University. Along with a 2010 David E. Logothetti Teaching Award, the highest honor given to an instructor by the College of Arts and Sciences, these recognitions have been conferred upon nearly one-third of the philosophy faculty. Read More
Louis and Dorina Brutocao Award for Teaching Excellence
The university’s highest teaching award, driven by alumni nominations, the Brutocao Award “honors those teachers who, over a period of years, have made a real difference: those who have served as exemplars in the Santa Clara, Jesuit tradition of service, who have challenged their students in ways that have forced them to look at the world afresh, who have exerted a major influence over the intellectual and moral development of their students, who have, in short, made an imprint that is still felt in some way years after graduation.”
Winners of the Brutocao from SCU Philosophy Department
Brian Buckley (2019)
Shannon Vallor (2015)
Scott LaBarge (2012)
William Prior (2009)
David E. Logothetti Teaching Award (College of Arts and Sciences)
“In recognition of having established among colleagues and students a well-deserved reputation for an energetic, engaging, and effective teaching style, and having demonstrated the ability to motivate other teachers and learners.”
Winner of the Logothetti Teaching Award from SCU Philosophy Department
Larry Nelson (2010)
Arnold L. and Lois S. Graves Award for Teaching in the Humanities
The Graves Award, a competitive honor awarded to junior faculty in Western states under the auspices of the American Council of Learned Societies, is “intended to encourage and to reward ‘outstanding accomplishment in actual teaching in the humanities’,” and are “made to those for whom there can be submitted evidence of unusual skill and enthusiasm as teachers and who can show that their projects will enhance their ability in the classroom.”
Winner of the Graves Award from SCU Philosophy Department
Erick Ramirez (2020)
Shannon Vallor (2010)
Scott LaBarge (2004)
Michael Meyer (1990)
University Award for Sustained Excellence in Scholarship
– this award “recognizes the outstanding achievements and dedication of a faculty member who has demonstrated sustained excellence in scholarly or creative work and who has been a faculty member of Santa Clara University for a minimum of ten years.
Winner of the Award from SCU Philosophy Department
Philip Kain (2005)
Joseph Bayma, S.J. Scholarship Award
This College of Arts & Sciences Award is “in recognition of having established among colleagues and students a well-deserved reputation for productive, meaningful, and rigorous scholarly or creative work, and for having demonstrated the ability to motivate other scholars or artists, teachers and learners.”
Winner of the Bayma Award from SCU Philosophy Department
Philip Kain (1999)
The Bernard Hubbard, S.J., Creative Collaboration Award
This award recognizes a professor who has established a well-deserved reputation for excellence in educating students by including them in professional research projects or creative activity, thereby transcending traditional teaching models to reach the heart of the research and creative process and, in this collaboration, for having inspired other scholars and artists.
Winner of the Hubbard Award from SCU Philosophy Department
Erick Ramirez (2019)
Additional Awards Received by Current Philosophy Faculty and Staff
Janis Davis, Staff Recognition Award (2001-2002) and Nancy Keil Service Excellence Award (2009): “in recognition of having established a well-deserved reputation for sustained excellence and initiative in providing technical or administrative support service, and for consistently approaching one's responsibilities with a professionalism that demonstrations dedication to the welfare of students and others and that leads by example.”