EDUCATE
vital part of the AIA’s mission is to educate and inform the public about archaeology and the importance of cultural heritage. To that end, each year at the AIA’s Annual Meeting, the Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award is presented to someone whose innovative teaching empowers their students and inspires them to dig deeper into archaeology. This year’s winner was Sinclair Bell, Presidentialcapture the interest of students who otherwise might have no experience in art history or archaeology is unmatched. In the words of one of his students: “Dr. Bell is a spectacular professor who creates an environment that inspires his students to do their best work. I came to his class for a writing course and left with an educated mind and a greater appreciation of ancient art.” Many of Bell’s undergraduate and graduate students have gone on to pursue their own careers in art history, archaeology, museum studies, and cultural heritage management. “Knowing that I have had that kind of long-range, positive influence is probably my most rewarding feeling as an educator,” Bell says. His inbox is a testament to how memorable his courses are, and some former students reach out many years after sitting in his classroom. “You can never predict where and when the messages will come from or who the sender will be,” he adds.
