Professor of the Year
The Saint Mary's College annual Professor of the Year Award honors an outstanding, full-time member of the Saint Mary’s College faculty.
One of the highest honors on campus, this award recognizes the outstanding contributions and dedication exhibited by a faculty member in teaching and scholarship. The recipient will deliver a formal presentation before the faculty and invited guests at an annual spring reception.
Each spring, the provost invites all members of the faculty and staff to submit nominations, along with supporting materials, for the award. Please see below for more information.
Barbara McGraw, 2025-26 Professor of the Year
Celebrated and Honored
At a reception on April 30, 2026, the Saint Mary’s community will honor Professor McGraw for her achievements, influence, and impact on generations of students and fellow faculty members.
Faith, Politics, and Leadership: Finding Common Ground in a Pluralistic Society
At the April 30 reception, Professor McGraw will reflect on her work exploring the relationship between faith, politics, and leadership in a pluralistic society. A scholar of religion and public life and founder of the Center for Engaged Religious Pluralism, McGraw’s research examines how religious pluralism shaped the founding ideals of the United States—what she calls “America’s Sacred Ground”—and how those values can foster respectful dialogue across differences today. Her scholarship and public advocacy, including work defending religious liberty for incarcerated individuals, highlight the importance of civil discourse, ethical leadership, and interfaith understanding in strengthening democratic life.
A call for nominations is sent out each Spring by the Office of Academic Affairs.
A complete nomination packet consists of a nomination letter and a current CV of the nominee. In the letter of nomination, please be as specific as possible about the particular distinguished accomplishments that characterize your nominee as a teacher and/or scholar.
All nominations received are considered by a nominating committee composed of the members of the Rank and Tenure Committee, the Chair of the Academic Senate, the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs, the Academic Deans, and chaired by the Provost. All tenured faculty in good standing, including those on reduced services, are eligible for nomination. This group screens all names submitted by the general faculty and staff and selects valid nominations. The committee selects a final choice by secret ballot, accomplished by a simple majority of the votes cast. The name of the selected person will be formally announced by the provost at the Faculty End-of-Year Dinner. The winner of the award becomes eligible for re-nomination after five years.
Previous winners of the Saint Mary’s College Professor of the Year Award (2013 through 2025):
- Gretchen Lemke-Santangelo (2024-25)
- José Feito (2023-24)
- Brenda Hillman (2022-23)
- Ted Tsukahara (2021-22)
- Rosemary Graham (2020-21)
- Ken Brown (2019-20)
- Joan Peterson (2018-19)
- Denise Witzig (2017-18)
- Steven Cortwright (2016-17)
- Carla Bossard (2015-16)
- David Bowen (2014-15)
- Myrna Santiago (2013-14)
- Rebecca Proehl (2012-13)
Previous winners of the Saint Mary’s College Professor of the Year Award (2004 through 2012):
- Barry Eckhouse (2011-12)
- Stephen Sloane (2010-11)
- Sandra Grayson (2009-10)
- Roy Wensley (2008-09)
- Ronald Olowin (2007-08)
- Lawrence Cory (2006-07)
- Nancy Struthers (2005-06)
- Brother John O’Neill (2004-05)
- Steve Woolpert (2003-04)