Rob Griffith, assistant professor of English, was recognized as 2005 Outstanding Teacher of the Year during the 147th Commencement Exercise on May 7. The Outstanding Teacher of the Year is presented by the UE Alumni Association and is selected by a committee from nominations made by students, faculty and administrators at the University.

Griffith came to UE in 2000 from the University of Arkansas, where he was an instructor of English. He earned his M.F.A. degree in creative writing from the University of Arkansas, and his Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with a specialization in creative writing, from the University of Tennessee.

Individuals nominating Griffith speak of his excellence in the classroom. “Rob Griffith is a born teacher,” observed a colleague who nominated him for this award. “He is simply a natural in the classroom. He is witty, selfless, engaging, and clever in his demanding assignments. He so obviously loves what he’s doing. In addition, he is as serious and gifted as a writer as he is a teacher.”

One student who nominated Griffith had three main points to make about why he submitted this professor’s name for consideration – “He knows his stuff; he is hilarious; and he is approachable.”

“Here’s the thing,” the student went on to say, “as a non-literature major, I feel comfortable in the class and I am able to give a worthwhile contribution. Even though I am learning material that is new and possibly outside of my comfort zone, I feel that I am gaining a lot from his lessons and really enjoy going to class. Even when I am sick, I go to this class. I haven’t missed a day. If that isn’t being engaged in class, I don’t know what is.”

This student summed up his reason for nominating Griffith in this way: “Every student I talk to who has had Griffith as a teacher raves about him. I am taking this class because I asked around to find out who the best teacher was and everyone said (Griffith). They were right.”

His work has appeared in such publications as Poetry Magazine, The Oxford American, Prairie Schooner, and The Formalist, and he has been a finalist for the Prairie Schooner Book Prize and the Poetry West Chapbook Award. Griffith has been nominated three times for the Pushcart Prize, and won the 1999 Tennessee Chapbook Prize from Middle Tennessee State University.

Griffith has served on the Athletics and the World Cultures Committees at UE. He was largely responsible for the formation of the Writers in the Schools Program, designed to train writers to develop other writers. Griffith also helped formulate the Summer Writing Program at Harlaxton, UE’s British campus. He also volunteers at Patchwork Central.