Patricia R. DeMarco
Sherwood Dodge Shankland Award for Encouragement of Teachers (2004)
2003-2004 Commencement Ceremony Excerpt
I am most pleased to announce that the winner of the Sherwood Dodge Shankland Award for the Year 2004 is associate professor of English, Dr. Patricia A. DeMarco.
Dr. DeMarco received the B.A. (with High Honors) from Le Moyne College, the M.A. from the State University of New York at Binghamton, and the Ph.D. in English from Duke. She taught briefly at the West Virginia University before joining the Ohio Wesleyan University Faculty in the year 2000. She was promoted to associate professor in her first year of eligibility, a rare accomplishment, last year.
In addition to the Freshman Writing Seminar, Dr. DeMarco teaches an Introduction to Literacy Study, and courses on Middle English Literature, History of the English Language, Chaucer and His Contemporaries, and Issues in English Linguistics. She is the author of numerous articles, essays, convention papers, and book chapters. And she is currently engaged with the final phases of producing a book entitled, Accommodating Fictions: the Subject of Violence in Lake Medieval Literature.
Dr. DeMarco is, according to her students and, again, In their words: “enthusiastic,” “informative,” “very interesting,” “thought provoking,” “spirited,” “inspirational,” “motivational,” “tough,” “funny,” “cool,” “witty,” “helpful,” “demanding,” and “entertaining.”
As one student put it: “She knows what she’s talking about and has a genuine concern for her students and wants them to succeed.” Said another: “She goes out of her way to be available to discuss problems and questions students might have.” And another: “Dr. DeMarco enjoys the subject matter she teaches and it shows; she has a true passion for literary stories.” And another: “She stimulates new ideas and encourages students to be creative.”
Finally, another student summed it up succinctly: “Dr. DeMarco is on point and spot on!”
Patricia, congratulations.