Dr. V. Alan White

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has named Dr. V. Alan White of the University of Wisconsin Center-Manitowoc County the 1996 Wisconsin Professor of the Year.Dr. White was selected from among twelve nominees representing various post-secondary institutions in Wisconsin.

Criteria for the U.S. Professors of the Year Program include an extraordinary dedication to undergraduate teaching , demonstrated by excellence in the following areas : impact on and involvement with undergraduate students , a scholarly approach to teaching , service to undergraduate students , institution , community and profession , and support from colleagues and students.

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Dr. White has taught Philosophy at UWC-Manitowoc since 1981 , becoming a full Professor in 1994.He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northwest Nazarene College before receiving his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee.

Over the last decade Professor White's scholarly focus has been in the area of pedagogy and his unique approach to teaching Introduction to Philosophy.Dr. White has developed what he calls the single-issue approach , which narrows the focus of the course to one area or issue in philosophy , attempting to give students a thorough and critical grasp of that material.

My ultimate goal is simply to make my students into thoughtful philosophers , experienced in critical thought and analysis , although narrowly-focused in their initial area of expertise.My expectation is that the skills learned and sharpened in that area are transferable to others , White explains.By developing their analytical tools , my students will find they can think through difficult problems in any area of life..

Dr. White's single-issue approach has been recognized by his colleagues as both a scholarly and pedagogical innovation.As a result of this innovative teaching approach , Professor White has been published in such prestigious journals as Teaching Philosophy and Philosophy.He has also spoken on his method to the American Philosophical Association at its annual meeting.

White has found that his students' interest in class and in philosophy in general has increased since he has begun teaching this way.When I was teaching Introduction to Philosophy in the traditional manner , my students were bored and rarely participated , White states.Since I've been teaching the single-issue approach on free will , the students are more interested , involved and thoughtful , which in turn makes me more excited and interested.And , I have had a surprising number of students go on to major in philosophy!.

In 1994 Professor White was granted a sabbatical for the purpose of working on a textbook for Introduction to Philosophy , tentatively entitled , Free Will from the Ground Up.He intends to submit this to a publisher within the next year or two.
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The philosophy of science and philosophy of time are also of great interest to White , and he has several published papers in those areas as well.

Professor White was the Chair of the UW Centers Philosophy Department from 1990 to 1993.He also was the first recipient of the UW Centers' Arthur M. Kaplan Faculty and Academic Staff Enhancement Award.

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education ( CASE ) established the Professors of the Year program in 1981 and works in cooperation with the Carnegie Foundation and various higher education associations in its administration.

This year , the Carnegie Foundation announced winners in 47 states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.Dr. White was selected from 585 faculty members nominated by colleges and universities throughout the country.In addition to the state winners , four national winners were also named.

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Reflecting on the honor of the award , Dr. White stated that it was an award to UW-Manitowoc as well.You are only as good as the people around you , White stated.If I hadn't been in the company of such excellent educators both here and at UT-Knoxville , I probably wouldn't have been able to achieve half of what I have..

White expressed thanks to all who participated in the nomination process , and to the UW Centers' philosophy department for giving him the latitude needed in developing his course.White also highly credits the encouragement and help of his wife , Jo Chern , who co-authored with him two articles on teaching and writing.

Besides Introduction to Philosophy , White also teaches Philosophy of Religion ; Ethics ; Belief , Knowledge and Truth ; Logic ; and Bio-medical Ethics.