May 16, 2006 - Rider Honors Two Professors for Teaching Excellence

Dr. Feng Chen, associate professor of chemistry, and Dr. Todd Weber, assistant professor of biology, were named the recipients of Rider University’s Distinguished Teaching Awards at the University’s 141st Commencement. The awards have been presented annually since 1961.

The two faculty members, nominated by their colleagues and students and judged by the University Honors Council, have been cited as among Rider’s most talented, effective and dedicated teachers.

Dr. Feng Chen

Dr. Feng Chen came to the Rider University in 1991 and, shortly after her arrival, earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from Northeastern University. In 1994, Dr. Chen was promoted to the rank of assistant professor II, and in 1997, she achieved the rank of associate professor with tenure. In 2000, she received the Rider University award for excellence in scientific research.

Dr. Chen possesses an extraordinary ability to teach complex topics in the field of chemistry in ways that students understand. She maintains high standards to prepare her students for success in advanced courses and graduate studies. In addition to teaching, conducting scientific research, and supervising students’ independent research, Dr. Chen is a valued and respected colleague within her department and has forged connections through campus activities and with national figures and professional organizations in her field.

Dr. Chen received nominations from faculty colleagues and students. Even students who have not yet had her as a teacher took the trouble to say how much they were looking forward to studying chemistry with her. Her students praised her ability to bring out their full potential in a very challenging area of study. Student nominators said: “She makes hard topics seem easy,” “she even helped me with lab reports when I was not in her class,” and “she is the reason that I understand chemistry.”

Dr. Todd Weber earned his doctorate in physiology in 1995 from the University of Illinois, and held positions at the University of Texas and the University of Houston before coming to Rider. The department of biology welcomed Dr. Weber to Rider in 2001. In 2004, he was promoted to the rank of assistant professor II. Dr. Weber’s application to the rank of associate professor with tenure was recently approved by the Rider University Board of Trustees.

In the five years that Dr. Weber has been a member of the Rider community, he has taught both introductory and upper level biology classes in creative and dynamic ways. Besides establishing new courses and improving existing ones, Dr. Weber has mentored students in the science learning community and biology honor society. Under his supervision, students pursuing independent study projects have presented research and co-authored papers with him. In addition, Dr. Weber has overseen the laboratory work of freshmen members of the Science Honors Fellowship Program.

Dr. Weber’s students cite him as an excellent, involved teacher and advisor. Student after student praised him for his concern for them both inside and outside the formal classroom and his ability to get them involved in the science learning community. One student wrote that a meeting with Dr. Weber when the student was still in high school influenced the decision to enroll at Rider. And two student nominators wrote – affectionately, we think – “He’s crazy!”