Mohawk Valley Community College Humanities Professor Dr. George J. Searles was awarded
the SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professorship designation, the highest honor bestowed
to faculty by the State University of New York system.
The Distinguished Teaching Professorship recognizes a tenured professor who has demonstrated consistently superior mastery of teaching, outstanding service to students, and commitment to their ongoing intellectual growth, scholarship and professional growth, and adherence to rigorous academic standards and requirements. Appointment constitutes a promotion to the State University’s highest academic rank, and it is conferred solely by the SUNY Board of Trustees.
“This is a tremendous honor for Dr. Searles and MVCC, as the threshold for this award is significant,” said MVCC President Dr. Randall VanWagoner. “George is so deserving of this award that recognizes his commitment to his students and the craft of teaching.”
Throughout his 45-year career at MVCC, Searles has been a highly respected professor in the School of Humanities with a deep commitment to the mission of the community college. An outstanding teacher, knowledgeable mentor, active scholar, and published poet, Searles has positively influenced hundreds of students’ lives and careers. He is a masterful instructor who demonstrates patience and respect for his students and their writing while providing a unique learning experience based on individual student needs. His textbook, “Workplace Communications: The Basics” was born out of the needs of his students. Now in its eighth edition, it is used in over 200 colleges in the United States and internationally, including Canada, Saudi Arabia, and China.
Searles is also an excellent mentor to his colleagues. He regularly welcomes new faculty into his discipline and quietly supports and guides them as they navigate the classroom experience. He is generous with his time, lending his vast knowledge, skills, and talents to assist with various College endeavors and has served extensively in campus governance. Searles also volunteers his time offering poetry workshops and writing grants for regional non-profit organizations.
Highly regarded in his field, Searles is a past recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities, and the Carnegie Foundation’s New York State Professor of the Year Award. He is considered a national authority on Philip Roth and has served as advisory editor for Philip Roth Studies.
Searles is the third MVCC professor to achieve this honor. Professor Ronald M. Labuz and Professor Norayne W. Rosero received the Distinguished Teaching Professorship designation in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
About the SUNY Distinguished Faculty Rank program
SUNY’s Distinguished Faculty Rank programs encourage ongoing commitment to excellence, kindle intellectual vibrancy, elevate the standards of instruction and enrich contributions to public service. They demonstrate the State University’s pride and gratitude for the consummate professionalism, the groundbreaking scholarship, the exceptional instruction and the breadth and significance of service contributions of its faculty. Appointment constitutes a promotion to the State University’s highest academic rank, and it is conferred solely by the State University Board of Trustees. The expectation is that individuals so appointed will receive additional support, consistent with the resources of the campus. In addition, Distinguished Faculty are automatically members of the SUNY Distinguished Academy, which encourages a renewed commitment to quality instruction, service to our campuses and the State, and strong leadership development for newer faculty.
About Mohawk Valley Community College
Mohawk Valley Community College, established in 1946, is New York State’s first community college with a mission to provide accessible, high-quality educational opportunities for everyone. As the community’s college, MVCC is committed to student success through partnerships, transfer and career pathways, and personal enrichment. With campuses in Utica and Rome, MVCC is the region’s primary provider of college education, offering 90 degree and certificate options for its enrollment of 6,000 full- and part-time students. MVCC also serves an additional 6,000 people through its corporate and community education programs, and its campuses welcome more than 50,000 people annually for community events.