1997-98 Richard P. Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching

CITATION FOR PROFESSOR BARBARA IMPERIALI

This year's prize for Teaching Excellence is presented to Professor Barbara Imperiali. Professor Imperiali superbly illustrates the qualities of a Feynman Prize teacher, demonstrating in the broadest sense, unusual ability, creativity and innovation in undergraduate and graduate classroom and laboratory teaching. She excels at every level, as a lively lecturer in introductory and upper level chemistry courses and as an inspirational mentor for research students. She has designed a new lecture course in bioorganic chemistry and an innovative laboratory course that introduces undergraduates to the techniques of peptide and DNA synthesis and characterization. Students describe her in glowing, admiring terms: "She is dynamic and intense, and it is impossible not to be drawn into the subject matter by someone who is so obviously excited by the material." Outside class Professor Imperiali consistently expresses her concern for the welfare of her students and her respect for them as individuals. The Institute is pleased to honor the inspired teaching of Barbara Imperiali with the 1998 Richard P. Feynman Prize for Teaching Excellence.