Known for the applied nature of his teaching and his uncompromising commitment to student success, John Ritter, professor of geology and department chair, is now known on a national scale, having just been named the 2013 Ohio Professor of the Year.
Sponsored by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the U.S. Professor of the Year program is the only national program to recognize excellence in undergraduate education. Since the program鈥檚 founding in 1981, Wittenberg has led the state among four-year institutions in the number of professors receiving the coveted distinction. Ritter鈥檚 award brings the official count to seven and again shines the spotlight on Wittenberg鈥檚 superb teaching inside the classroom and outside of it.
鈥淚 am in a profession where students can learn science by doing science, getting their hands dirty working on real problems,鈥� Ritter said. 鈥淭eaching goes way beyond the classroom in my field. 鈥楬ands-on experience鈥� is literal in geology, and I thrive at creating opportunities for students to examine real problems, collect data with the tools that geologists and environmental scientists use, and propose solutions that can be acted upon.鈥�
Nominated by faculty colleagues and university administrators, Ritter, who said he is 鈥渂oth honored and humbled by the recognition,鈥� specializes in geomorphology and environmental geology. He has also played a leadership role in the region, serving on local boards and committees, including the Clark County Soil and Water Conservation District, and using the area鈥檚 environmental resources to engage his students in collaborative research. From examining alternatives for Springfield鈥檚 combined sewer overflow problem to studying local drainage patterns and helping restore Springfield鈥檚 own Buck Creek, Ritter is ensuring that his students are able to take the content from his courses and apply it in practical, yet meaningful ways.
鈥淚 have a real sense of fulfillment when I consider the collaboration I have enjoyed with members of the Springfield and Clark County community, and I hope my students do, too,鈥� Ritter said. 鈥淭hough our impact on the science is modest, our lasting impact on the community can be significant.鈥�
Ritter鈥檚 influence on students is just as lasting as evidenced by the lifelong friendships he has made with them as result of the active, engaged learning experience Wittenberg provides.
鈥淲ittenberg is small enough and our students are so genuine that meaningful relationships develop between faculty and students, which last much longer than the student's time at Wittenberg,鈥� Ritter said. 鈥淭hese relationships are probably my favorite part of teaching here.鈥�
Wittenberg鈥檚 geology program was recently highlighted in a Dayton Daily News article, which noted that 鈥渢he need for geologists is growing across the nation. The industry was expected to add 7,100 jobs between 2010 and 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That 21 percent growth is faster than the average field.鈥� The program was also recognized by peers in the American Geological Society for its emphasis on applied teaching.
A nationally ranked university for the liberal arts and sciences affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 麻豆传媒团队 has repeatedly been ranked throughout the years by the Princeton Review for the quality of its teaching and faculty, including 11th in the nation for 鈥淏est Classroom Experience鈥� and 15th in the category 鈥淧rofessors Get High Marks鈥� in the 2011 edition of Princeton鈥檚 annual Best Colleges guide. Most recently, Wittenberg earned the No. 4 spot in the category of 鈥淢ost Accessible Professors.鈥�
Additionally, The Chronicle of Higher Education named Wittenberg one of the nation鈥檚 top producers of Fulbright Scholars among bachelor degree-granting institutions in 2010. The university has also been recognized nationally for excellence in service and athletics.
