OHIO STATE'S TERRELL MORGAN NAMED OHIO PROFESSOR OF THE YEAR

   COLUMBUS -- Terrell A. Morgan, associate professor of Spanish linguistics at The Ohio State University, has been named the Ohio Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

   Morgan, already well-known and previously rewarded for his strength in undergraduate instruction and his innovative methods of immersing students in study-abroad programs as well as the state's own Spanish-speaking communities, is among award recipients in 44 states and the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

   Winners were selected from more than 400 faculty members nominated by colleges and universities across the country. Nominees are evaluated in four areas: impact on and involvement with undergraduate students; scholarly approach to teaching and learning; contributions to undergraduate education within the institution, community and profession; and support from colleagues and students.

   An Ohio State faculty member in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese since 1984, Morgan has twice received one of the university's most coveted teaching prizes, the Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching. He most recently was among 10 recipients of the award last spring, and also received it in 1987.

   Morgan, of COLUMBUS (43221; Hilliard area), teaches upper- level Spanish classes and leads seminars abroad to introduce students to Hispanic cultures. His main areas of interest are Spanish pronunciation and phonology, and Spanish and Hispanic cultures.

   "Dr. Morgan is simply one of the most innovative and effective teachers I have ever known," Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Studies Martha Garland wrote in nominating Morgan for the Ohio Professor of the Year award. "His commitment to moving all of his students to real fluency has made a truly significant contribution to Ohio State's already strong reputation in the field of language instruction."

   Garland cited Morgan's "almost single-handed" development of an economical summer experience for beginning students in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Garland also noted Morgan took advantage of a sizable Hispanic population in Ohio to develop a "study-abroad" program back home. In addition -- or as an alternative -- to traveling overseas, students now can have an immersion experience in Columbus.

   Morgan said more than 800 Ohio State undergraduates have participated in programs in Mexico, Spain, Ecuador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic since study-abroad programs to Mexico first were created 10 years ago. To further linguistic and cultural immersion opportunities, Morgan developed a curriculum allowing students to take part in community cultural events; internships with clinics, schools, government offices and a local Hispanic magazine; other service-learning projects with a Head Start center, a neighborhood family center and a public library; opportunities for language practice with native speakers in town; and student research in the "living laboratory" beyond campus.

   "I want my students to learn by doing, to experience our subject matter so vividly that they can relate it directly to what they already know and to things they genuinely care about," Morgan said. He added that some of the experiences "have literally changed lives on both sides of the proverbial linguistic and cultural divide."

   In evaluations of his classes, students repeatedly call Morgan the best teacher they've ever had and say his enthusiasm and innovative teaching techniques motivate them to study with rigor. Colleagues say he is completely natural as a successful and effective teacher. He also is credited as a campus leader in Ohio State's increasing development of service-learning opportunities for students. Additionally, Morgan extends his instruction to high school teachers of Spanish through workshops dealing with both linguistic content and teaching methodologies.

   "I am so proud that Ohio State can claim the 1999 Ohio Professor of the Year," said William E. Kirwan, university president. "Terrell Morgan's creative approach to language instruction and his obvious commitment to teaching are truly inspiring. Recognition of his accomplishments indicates Ohio State continues to make advances in high-priority areas, especially academic excellence and enhancement of the undergraduate experience."

   Morgan earned his Ph.D. in Hispanic linguistics from the University of Texas, his master's in linguistics from the University of North Carolina, and his bachelor's degree in linguistics from the College of William and Mary. He also spent his junior year abroad at the Universidad de Valencia in Spain.

   The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching is the only advanced study center for teachers in the world. CASE is the international professional association representing alumni relations, communications and fund-raising officers in education.

Contact: Terrell Morgan, (614) 771-7787 (at home; he is on a research leave this fall)