University Times

Outstanding and innovative teaching in the College of Arts and Sciences will be recognized through the Tina and David Bellet CAS Teaching Award, established with a $200,000 donation from the Bellet family.

A committee appointed by the associate dean for Undergraduate Studies annually will award two faculty a cash prize and financial support for ongoing teaching activities. Faculty who have taught in CAS over the past three years are eligible. The committee will evaluate teaching skills as evidenced by student-teaching and peer evaluations, student testimonials and dossiers submitted by nominees. "Teachers should be acknowledged, rewarded and encouraged," said David Bellet, an alumnus, who was inspired by his wife Tina, a teacher. "Over the past 25 years we have met many of her former students, and their very positive comments about how her teaching skills motivated them made a strong impression." Bellet, founder of Crown Advisors Ltd., an investment firm with offices in New York and San Francisco, said that he has used some of his wife's techniques as a guest lecturer for the past 15 years at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. "I have been amazed at how positive the students are when I meet them a decade later." Bellet awardees will be honored at an annual dinner celebrating excellence in undergraduate teaching.