Remarks from
the Academic
Senate Reception:
Professor Mark Juergensmeyer, in the Department of Global and International Studies, Sociology, and Religious Studies, is awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award for 2005-06. Professor Juergensmeyer teaches a notable selection of courses ranging from lower and upper division undergraduate courses such as: Global Socioeconomic and Political Processes or Social Ethics, Global Conflict and Terrorism to Graduate courses such as the Global Studies PhD Emphasis Seminar.
Professor Mark Juergensmeyer’s dynamic teaching style is widely known throughout the UCSB campus. Any class led by Professor Juergensmeyer is an environment for critical analysis and discussion. His students observe “Professor Juergensmeyer encourages, even expects, his students to ask questions, challenge his beliefs and even to openly debate hot topics.” Another student notes, “he makes a class of two-hundred feel like fifteen as he reaches out to [us], engaging us in conversation.” He often invites expert guest speakers to accompany his lectures, and organizes class trips to various places of worship for his Religious Studies courses.
Professor
Juergensmeyer is involved in many aspects of University life beyond teaching.
He is the Director of the Department of Global and International Studies
and the Director of the newly established Orfalea Center for Global and
International Studies. In addition to his service to the University, Professor
Juergensmeyer is one of the world’s leading scholars of global terrorism. Despite
these many commitments and responsibilities, Professor Juergensmeyer remains
accessible to his students. He often holds evening meetings where
students can discuss current events and issues featured in class. It
is clear that Mark Juergensmeyer is a remarkable Professor who inspires
his students to think autonomously and to take their learning beyond the
curriculum.