Innovative Teaching Recognized

Andy MacDonald received the Ganoe Award for Inspirational Teaching.

MacDonald Honored With Ganoe Award for Inspirational Teaching 

Ian Andrew “Andy” MacDonald, assistant professor of French, received the Constance and Rose Ganoe Memorial Award for Inspirational Teaching during Dickinson’s Commencement exercises on May 18.

Established in 1969 with a bequest from the late William A. Ganoe, class of 1902, the award is given annually to a Dickinson faculty member elected by the senior class through secret balloting. The award includes an honorarium and the opportunity to use funds from the Ganoe Memorial Fund to support teaching and research interests.

“I am incredibly honored that the students of the class of 2014 have chosen me in recognition of my work in the classroom, as an advisor and in the lives of students at Dickinson,” said MacDonald.

Class of 2014 President Michael Meyers presented the award and described MacDonald as “an innovative teacher, who particularly integrates theatre and performance as a pedagogical tool. He is an active advisor of students and has contributed meaningfully to a range of programs in support of students beyond the classroom.”

MacDonald joined the Dickinson faculty in the Department of French & Italian (now separated into the French and Italian & Italian studies departments) in 2006. He teaches courses in French literature and contemporary French theatre as well as service-learning courses on theatre as public service. MacDonald brings his research interests and extensive activity in community-based performance and improvisation to the college and regional communities with performances in clowning, theatrical music and sound, and installation. His performance portfolio also includes dance, choreography, writing, directing and design and he has conducted dozens of dance and theatre workshops across the U.S. and abroad.

In professional service to the college, MacDonald is a member of the healthy masculinity committee, has helped organize the yearly Dickinson College men’s retreat and has contributed with other faculty and staff to facilitate activities aimed at sexual-violence prevention on campus. He also serves on the President’s Commission on Women and on the President’s Commission on Environmental Sustainability.

During the fall 2008 semester, MacDonald served as resident director of the Dickinson in France global-studies program, where he also taught an intercultural seminar. He currently serves as the program’s on-campus liaison. Previously, he served as a visiting assistant professor at Grinnell College in Iowa and as an instructor in the Department of Modern Languages at the University of Colorado at Denver.

“Teaching students about intercultural communication and understanding, identities, diversity, community, service, creativity, humility, kindness, listening, attention to and care for others, compassion, outreach, and ultimately love is my greatest goal, and in the receipt of this award I can truly see that the expression of my deepest values through teaching and involvement in the lives of students has been greatly appreciated. I cannot ask for a greater sign of the students’ respect and acknowledgement of my efforts,” said MacDonald.

He is the author of numerous book and theatre reviews, book chapters and scholarly journal contributions. MacDonald received his bachelor’s degree from Mount Allison University, Canada, and earned a master’s and Ph.D. in French literature from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

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Published June 17, 2014