Dr. Dorothy Salem, professor at Cuyahoga Community College, has been named the Ohio Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The announcement was made this morning in Washington, D.C. by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), which administers the Professor of the Year program. 

The CASE Professor of the Year program salutes the most outstanding undergraduate instructors in America, those who excel as teachers and influence the lives and careers of their students. It is recognized as one of the most prestigious awards honoring professors. 

I am just one of many teachers here at Tri-C who live their professional lives by our slogan "Where Futures Begin." We all have a wonderful opportunity to influence the direction of people's lives so that our students can become what their potential will allow," said Salem. 

Making Salem's honor unique is that she's received her Professor of the Year award for teaching at the same school where she first attended college. Salem is a 1969 graduate of Cuyahoga Community College with an Associate of Science Degree in Medical Assisting. 

She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in History in 1971 and Master of Arts in History in 1973 at Cleveland State University. 

alem then received her Ph.D in History from Kent State University in 1985. Salem began teaching part-time at Tri-C in 1973 and is currently the College's Coordinator of Geography, History, Political Science, Urban Studies and Women's Studies. Her area of specialization is African American history. 

She has written numerous articles for professional journals, periodicals and anthologies and authored three books: The Journey: A History of the African American Experience, African American Women: A Biographical Dictionary and To Better Our World: Black Women in Organized Reform, 1890- 1920. "In choosing Dr. Dorothy Salem as Ohio Professor of the Year for 2002, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has selected an educator whose knowledge of her field is unquestioned and whose commitment to her students is legendary. 

On behalf of the citizens of Ohio, I extend congratulations to Dr. Salem and thank her for providing such a clear example of teaching excellence since joining Cuyahoga Community College in 1973," said Ohio Governor Bob Taft. "The faculty, students and staff of Cuyahoga Community College have known for years that Dr. Salem is an outstanding educator. To have the Carnegie Foundation recognize her excellence by naming her the Ohio Professor of the Year is strong validation of how she works with students professionally and personally to increase their knowledge and improve their lives," said Cuyahoga Community College President Dr. Jerry Sue Thornton. 

Opened in 1963, Tri-C is Ohio's oldest and largest community college, serving 55,000 students each year. More than 700,000 Cuyahoga County residents have come through Tri-C's doors. The College offers two-year associate's degrees, certificate programs, and the first two years of the baccalaureate degree. The curriculum includes nearly 900 credit courses in 70 career and technical programs and the liberal arts. 

Courses are offered through a Metro campus and Workforce and Economic Development Division near downtown Cleveland, an Eastern campus in Highland Hills, a Western campus in Parma, as well as numerous off-campus sites, television, and the Internet.