Associate Professor of English Stanley Blair, Ph.D., was the recipient of the Steven J. Rosen Mentor Award at the 42nd annual New Jersey College English Association (NJCEA) conference last month. The honor is bestowed upon a college English professor who has served as a mentor to colleagues, and has “contributed to the profession beyond assigned teaching duties by demonstrating leadership, giving wise counsel, and providing extraordinary guidance,” according to the NJCEA.
“I am honored to be the 2019 recipient of [this award], which recognizes service to the profession and to its future,” said Blair. “The award is all the more meaningful to me because it represents a quality on which all universities depend. The award reflects many contributions to my personal values and professional life, including wisdom from family and friends, encouragement from my own academic mentors, and support from colleagues in my department and from across Monmouth University.”
Blair was nominated for this award by Eric Farwell, adjunct professor of English at Monmouth. In his nomination letter, Farwell wrote, “Stan’s ability to mentor at any time, to not push away or reschedule, and to always find a way to be enthusiastic and buoyant in uncertain times is nothing short of incredible. Not only has he provided direction for myself and other students, but he’s helped us recognize our potential, fostering a new generation of academics in whatever small way he can.”
Farwell concluded, “Stan Blair doesn’t just deserve an award, he deserves a daily standing ovation for his commitment to the transformation of students into academics, and the undeniable ability to make one believe that they can have a future in the field.”
Blair expressed his gratitude for Farwell’s nomination, as well as to the award committee and NJCEA, and “especially to all the future professionals with whom I’ve been privileged to work and from whom I have learned so much.”