Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. R. Wesley Rose received the coveted Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching and a standing ovation at the spring Honors Convocation.

“Each year we ask students to nominate their choice for this prestigious award, along with comments for their choice. This year the comments for Dr. Rose were overwhelmingly indicative of his dedication to his students,” said Dr. Steve O. Michael, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Words and themes used repeatedly throughout the comments include: passionate, enthusiasm, inspiring, mentor, friend, educator, intelligent, dedicated, and excellent.”

“In 2005, Wes joined Arcadia as a one-year Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology, and because of his impressive performance as a faculty, he was appointed as a full-time Assistant Professor the following year. That appointment has proved to be very fortunate for Arcadia.”

One of his students commented that, “in class he gives time to ask questions… provides examples for various concepts… makes the class enjoyable through humor… [provides] a wealth of knowledge on the subject… and strives to teach not only procedures but the whys and hows of the research.” Another states, “He has a way of explaining advanced concepts such that they make complete sense and become easy to visualize.” At the same time, students also recognize the difficulty of his courses, as “his exams are killer and his workload is tedious,” and that he is “very serious about his research, and has high expectations, but I have never learned more in any class that I have taken.”

Others indicate that his dedication is evident through his availability outside class time. “Each student is important [to him]. He not only cares about each student’s individual progress, but will take time out of his day just to sit down and discuss it.”

The committee assembled to select this year’s Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching agreed with the comment, “He has been both a great mentor and teacher, as well as a friend. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of such an award.”

“Personally,” stated Michael, “I am honored to have Wes as a member of the Provost Advisory Council.”

Rose received his B.A. in Biology from Franklin and Marshall College (1994), his M.S. in Biomedical Chemistry from Thomas Jefferson University (1998), and his Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania (2003). His post-doctoral training was conducted at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Viral Pathogenesis and Immunology.