2021 Janet Andersen Lecture Award Recipients

Biological Sciences and Psychology

Dr. Gerald Griffin

Dr. Gerald Griffin
Interim Provost
Professor of Biology and Psychology
Hope College, Holland Michigan

It is clear from his nomination letter that Dr. Griffin is a master teacher. His use of an interdisciplinary approach in particular is in the spirit of Janet Andersen. As the writers of the letter put it “Dr. Griffin has used creative approaches to cross-train students for types of thinking and writing that are hallmarks of an excellent liberal arts education, addressing neuroscience in relation to ethics, law, and art.” The results of this approach have been exercises like business plans that connect neuroscience to the needs of the community and the “Jazz Session of the Brain” as a way of teaching about brain neural paths. Dr. Griffin also has an impressive record as a research mentor as indicated by the fact that he has mentored over forty-five undergraduate research students in the last decade and published papers with twelve of them. His record of service to the college community is also exemplary especially in his role of Interim Provost in the year of COVID 19.

Physical Sciences, Math, and Computer Sciences

Dr. Dwight Stoll
Professor of Chemistry
Gustavus Adolphus College

The writer of the nomination letter for Dr. Stoll noted that “His research lab is not just open to the ‘best and the brightest’. He is willing to offer an opportunity to any student who expresses a genuine curiosity about science and even seeks out students who have a glimmer of scientific potential. In other words, Dwight pays attention to his students and realizes their potential before they realize it themselves.” One measure of Dr. Stoll’s success as a research mentor is that 21 of the roughly 60 undergraduate research students he has worked with have been co-authors on his scientific papers. Another measure of the quality of his scholarly work as a separation scientist focused on liquid chromatography is his appearance on The Analytical Scientist’s ‘Top 100 Analytical Scientists’ 2019 Power List. Dr. Stoll is also known as a skillful and dedicated teacher with strong interests in curricular and pedagogical innovation. He has provided outstanding service to both his scholarly and campus community, particularly during the pandemic crisis of the past year when he served as chair of the COVID Gustavus Adolphus faculty emergency planning committee and held a position on college-wide COVID leadership team.