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Award Programs for Faculty

Distinguished University Professor

2008 Awardees

The University of South Florida has honored two faculty members as Distinguished University Professors for 2008. Dr. Arthur Bochner, communications professor, and Dr. Laurence Branch, gerontology professor, were selected for the university’s top faculty honor in recognition of their scholarly achievements as researchers and instructors. The nomination process requires a rigorous internal and external review of credentials as scholars in their respective disciplines.

"Drs. Bochner’s and Branch’s scholarly achievements and leadership in the classroom are integral not only to the growth of their disciplines but also to the continued success of the university," said Dr. Ralph C. Wilcox, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at USF. "In addition to the painstaking review conducted by USF leaders and scholars, faculty and researchers at some of our nation’s leading academic institutions took the time to conduct a careful review of Drs. Bochner and Branch’s portfolios. The national and international recognition and impact of their pioneering contributions are well documented, and it is my privilege to bestow this honor upon two of the finest academics at USF."

Dr. Arthur Bochner
Dr. Arthur Bochner, Professor of Communication
Dr. Bochner is a world-renowned scholar in the field of communication. He is considered one of the primary thought leaders in communications research and is recognized as one of the founding members of the sub-discipline of interpersonal communication, specifically autoethnography. Dr. Bochner is a prolific writer, with 35 refereed articles, 55 book chapters, and four books to his credit. His equally distinguished teaching record has earned Dr. Brochner numerous teaching awards and recognition for his mentoring of doctoral students in his 24 years at USF. Dr. Bochner has also excelled at service, having served as department chair for two terms, on a number of committees in the College of Arts and Sciences, and as the College of Arts and Sciences representative on the Faculty Senate. He has also served his profession as editor, associate editor, or board member for 16 journals and handbooks.

Dr. Laurence Branch
Dr. Laurence Branch, Professor of Health Policy and Management
Dr. Branch is an internationally-recognized researcher in the field of gerontology. Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Branch has been credited with conceptualizing the widely-used term ‘active life expectancy’ to describe the time period over which the elderly are fully functional and independent. Including book chapters and technical reports in addition to refereed journal articles, he has 380 publications to his credit and has received more than $12 million in research funding. In recognition of his excellent teaching at the doctoral level, Dr. Branch has the American Public Health Association named an award after him, the “Laurence G. Branch Doctoral Student Research Award.” Dr. Branch has also served his discipline at the national level by providing expert testimony to Congress and serving as editor or editorial board member of the most prestigious public health and aging journals.