Bob G. Hansman, assistant professor in the School of Architecture, has won an Emerson Electric Excellence in Teaching Award. Hansman received the award Nov. 5 at a ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton hosted by KMOV-TV news anchor Julius Hunter.
"Bob is an extraordinary teacher who brings vision and clarity to his mission of teaching students how to see, how to edit what they see and how to capture that seeing on paper," said Cynthia Weese, dean of the School of Architecture, who nominated Hansman for the award. "Both within and outside the school, Bob is always engaged in furthering art, architecture and a sense of community. He truly lives what he teaches and inspires students to do the same."
Hansman, who is renowned for his work with under-privileged inner-city youth, teaches courses in freehand drawing and painting in the School of Architecture and is also on the faculty and curriculum committee for the George Warren Brown School of Social Work's program "Urban Youth Enrichment Strategies, Urban Family and Community Development." Last fall, he created and taught the Architecture Hewlett Program "Community Building: Building Community," which introduced freshmen to the role of architects and architecture in developing neighborhoods and communities.
In addition, he founded the program "City Faces," which offers year-round drawing classes in a St. Louis housing project, and is active in several other community arts groups, including FOCUS St. Louis, Art St. Louis and Paint St. Louis, the annual graffiti wall project.
Hansman's work has been cited by the President's Council on the Arts and Humanities, honored by Colin Powell's America's Promise campaign and received a Missouri Arts Award from the Missouri Arts Council. He was given a Professor of the Year Award in Architecture for the 1998-99 school year by Washington University's Student Union.
The Excellence in Teaching program, sponsored by Emerson Electric Co., annually recognizes over 100 teachers from pre-school through higher education. The program began in 1989 as part of St. Louis' VP Fair, but in 1991 it was adapted to coincide with the beginning of National Education Week in the fall. Honorees are selected by their school districts or institutions for exceptional efforts in the education field.
"These teachers have worked tirelessly to instill the joy of learning in their students," said David Farr, chief executive officer of Emerson. "They exemplify the values of integrity and hard work. Because of their efforts, we can look to their students as the leaders of tomorrow."