SALISBURY, MD—“A highly engaged, reflective practitioner who has an exceptional teaching record” and “a passionate and demanding professor” who can “blend research and teaching seamlessly to the benefit of students” have been recognized with this year’s Salisbury University Distinguished Faculty Award.
Drs. Alexander “Sandy” Pope, associate professor of secondary and physical education, and Tim Stock, professor and chair of the Philosophy Department, are the recipients of this year’s prestigious honor, given by faculty to faculty.
“Part of our institution’s mission statement says, ‘Believing that learning and service are vital components of civic life, Salisbury University actively contributes to the local Eastern Shore community and the educational, economic, cultural and social needs of our state and nation,’” said Dr. Laurie Couch, SU provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. “This year, the Faculty Awards and Recognition Committee selected two recipients who strongly exemplify this commitment to civic engagement.”
Dr. Alexander Pope
As director of SU’s Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement (PACE), Pope oversaw the University’s successful application for the Carnegie Foundation’s Classification for Community Engagement, a prestigious distinction that documents campus efforts that display an “excellent alignment among campus mission, culture, leadership, resources and practices that support dynamic and noteworthy community engagement.”
He also helped create SU’s Civic Engagement Across the Curriculum program, teaching more than 60 colleagues how to design courses for community engagement.
A recipient of the University System of Maryland’s Wilson H. Elkins Professorship to expand PACE’s programming, Pope used the opportunity to facilitate the transfer of the National Center for Civic Reflection to SU. The New Student Reflection Initiative is now a major component of SU orientation, providing a meaningful initial learning experience for incoming students.
In addition, overseeing SU’s ShoreCorps Americorps program through PACE, Pope has secured nearly $4 million in funding during the past five years, supporting over 360,000 hours of public service for area governmental and non-profit agencies, and more than $1 million in scholarship funding for program participants.
Pope also spearheads the SU Maryland Holocaust Educators Network and organizes its Summer Institute for Teachers, and has served on a number of SU committees.
Beyond SU, he has been a member and leader of a number of boards and committees for organizations including the National and Maryland councils for the Social Studies, the Jewish Museum of Maryland and the University System of Maryland working group on civic engagement. In addition, he has more than 20 publications and over 60 conference presentations.
More than benefitting the community, Pope’s work helps to provide his students with a meaningful and well-rounded education, according to his nominator, Dr. Doug DeWitt, chair of SU’s Education Leadership Department.
“Through all of his teaching, his service, and his research and scholarly activity … Sandy provides his students with a premier learning experience and influences the next generation of secondary school social studies teachers.”
Dr. Tim Stock
As co-director of SU’s Re-Envisioning Ethics Access and Community Humanities (REACH) program, Stock helped secure a $146,322 National Endowment for the Humanities grant to support community-based ethics education, working to bring aspects of ethical practice into all disciplines at SU.
Stock’s commitment to ethical enfranchisement is exemplified through SU’s ethics program at Eastern Correctional Institution, through which he facilitates discussions between inmates and SU students, replicating the typical education experience of an SU Philosophy 203 Ethics class. ECI officials note that Stock’s efforts have “brought hope into this prison,” while at least one participant has called the program “nothing short of a miracle.”
In addition, Stock serves on the City of Salisbury Ethics Commission, and hosts and co-produces an educational program for Delmarva Public Media. His colleagues also have noted his “impressive output of scholarly works and conference presentations in very well-regarded outlets” and his ability to “make high-quality research available to the general public.”
“The two most remarkable aspects of Tim’s teaching are his innovation and his modeling of the teacher-scholar model,” said his nominator, Dr. Joerg Tuske, SU professor of philosophy. “He manages to blend his research and teaching seamlessly to the benefit of his students, to many of whom he has been an outstanding mentor with great success in graduate program placement.
“Tim is always looking to deliver his courses in an interesting and engaging way, whether he teaches his Philosophy 101 class using graphic novels or focusing on descriptions, illusions and lies, or developing a philosophy of art class on video game design, the latter even featured in an article in the Baltimore Sun.
“Tim’s contributions have been outstanding in … teaching, professional activity and service. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of his accomplishments is the synergy he creates between these different areas. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of the Distinguished Faculty Award.”
About the Award
Celebrating its 36th year in 2023, the Distinguished Faculty Award has been bestowed upon 78 faculty. Pope and Stock will be added to an honor roll listing all recipients since the award was established.
Learn more about SU and opportunities to Make Tomorrow Yours at www.salisbury.edu.
