MANSFIELD — The Ohio State University at Mansfield English Professor Elizabeth Zeman Kolkovich had her class interrupted by the dean and director of OSU Mansfield and vice provosts Friday afternoon.
The interruption was a sophisticatedly planned way of surprising Kolkovich, who was being told she had received the Ohio State Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching. The award is the highest teaching honor an OSU teacher can receive. Students and faculty had written about how wonderful of a teacher Kilkovich is, helping her win the award.
“You are now a part of the very honorific group of academic teachers and academy of teachers at the university of teachers, which is the highest level of teachers who assist us all in the entire university,” Kay Wolf, vice provost for academic resources and faculty resources said.
The award is given to 10 teachers a year across all of Ohio State’s campuses, Wolf said, and about 650 Alumni Awards for Distinguished Teaching had been given. It is not every year a satellite campus teacher wins the award, Wolf pointed out.
“Wow,” Kolkovich said tearing up. “I’m completely overwhelmed. I was very surprised. I had no idea this was happening, and I am also very honored. I work with a bunch of amazing teachers and this is really meaningful.”
Kolkovich has taught at OSU Mansfield’s English department since 2009, teaching Shakespeare and Renaissance literature. She said the award is a reflection of the satellite campus’ English program.
Kolkovich has also received the Ohio State Mansfield Excellence in Teaching Award after being nominated by students and selected by a committee of faculty. Last fall she accepted the Paul W. Brown Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching, again being selected by the students and faculty in the English Department and those in the College of Arts and Sciences.
“I think I speak for all of my colleagues here at OSU Mansfield and say we really care very much about teaching. I hope we are known or become known as a campus that features really great, enthusiastic teaching.”
Her inspiring enthusiasm in the classroom has helped her students better learn about British literature and bring the idea of teaching in their future.
“Professor Kolkovich is a wonderful professor who is passionate about the time period she studies,” senior Kaylor Montgomery said of her professor. “Her passion and drive for the early modern period is what inspired me to enjoy British literature, and it is her passion and drive that drove me to contemplate a future of my own in academia.”
