Dr. Charles R. Toth, associate professor of biology and department chair, has been chosen as the recipient of the 2008-09 Joseph R. Accinno Faculty Teaching Award at Providence College.
The announcement was made by Dr. Laurie L. Grupp, associate professor of education and chair of the nine-member Teaching Award Selection Committee (TASC), during the College's Spring Faculty and Staff Meeting on Wednesday, March 18.
Established in 2002, the Joseph R. Accinno Faculty Teaching Award is presented annually to a tenured faculty member who exhibits excellence in teaching, a passion and enthusiasm for learning, and genuine concern for students' academic and personal growth.
The award is named for the late brother of John J. Accinno, C.P.A. '46, who is a member of PC's Providence President's Council. The TASC received more than 150 nominations for faculty members from 21 different academic disciplines.
Toth joined the College faculty in 2000 as a special lecturer before becoming an adjunct assistant professor and later, a tenure-track assistant professor. He was promoted to associate professor in 2005.
He currently teaches an advanced biology course on immunology and an advanced topics seminar on HIV. In addition, he is overseeing three students who are conducting undergraduate research.
"The only way to describe how I feel is 'humbled,'" Toth said. "I see the list of previous winners and know how many incredible professors we have on campus working every day with our students; to be singled out like this is truly incredible."
Toth said his philosophy as a teacher is to foster an excitement and an appreciation of science in every class he leads, no matter the level.
"The best way to learn science is to do science and get some hands-on work in the field," he said. "My research students get to work directly with me on the study of leukemia and cell growth. Overall, I want to foster a skill set with my students that they can take with them on their journey onward after PC."
Distinguished academic career
Prior to coming to PC, Toth was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of California-San Francisco's Department of Microbiology and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute from 1993 to 1999. He also has held visiting professorships at Santa Clara University and San Francisco State University and instructorships at the University of Virginia and University of Toledo.
Toth has authored or co-authored more than a dozen academic papers and articles in scientific journals and has presented academic posters at conferences across the United States.
He graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's of science degree from the University of Toledo and earned his doctoral degree from the University of Virginia.
Toth will be formally acknowledged at the College's Academic Convocation in September. In addition, his name will be engraved on a plaque in Phillips Memorial Library, and he will receive a cash stipend.
Previous Accinno Award recipients: