Alumni Association's Executive Vice President Honored for Excellence in Teaching

Bill Dean Receives President’s Excellence in Teaching Award at 2008 Faculty Honors Convocation.

Written by Chad Elrod

Alumni Highlights

Bill Dean, associate professor of Mass Communications, was one of 13 faculty awarded the President's Excellence in Teaching Award from President Whitmore. Photo by Joey Hernandez.

Bill Dean, ’61, ’65, ’71, was awarded the President’s Excellence in Teaching Award for the second time at the 2008 Faculty Honors Convocation, which took place April 22. His first President’s Excellence in Teaching Award came in 1995 when the Department of Mass Communications was under the College of Arts and Sciences.

"Dr. Dean joined the faculty sometime between the Ice Age and 1967," said Jerry Hudson, dean of the College of Mass Communications. "He has graciously served the university in numerous capacities with exceptional success; however, his real expertise is in the classroom."

“The first time I received the award I was very humbled and honored," Dean said. "This is an award my peers, my fellow professors in the College of Mass Communications nominated me to receive. It is very special this time around now that Mass Communications has become its own college.”

Dean started his tenure at Texas Tech as the director of student publications from 1967-1978. He accepted the executive vice president role at the Texas Tech Ex-Students Association (Texas Tech Alumni Association) in 1978 and continues in that role today. Dean served as an assistant professor in the Department of Mass Communications from 1972-1975, when he was promoted to associate professor. He also is associate dean of student affairs for the college and teaches three classes each semester.

Dean has received numerous awards, including the Faculty Distinguished Leadership Award from the Moms and Dads Association in 1999; the Mortar Board/ODK Outstanding Faculty Award in 1982; and he was voted Best Teacher at Texas Tech from 1997 – 2005, and again in 2008 by readers of the Daily Toreador.

Dean continues to be among the most liked and recognized professors on the Texas Tech campus.

Other Outstanding Faculty Honored by President Whitmore.