Sociology professor named Teacher of the Year | Press Releases

Dr. Arthur Anderson, a member of the Sociology Department faculty since 1968, has been named Teacher of the Year at Fairfield University by Alpha Sigma Nu, the national Jesuit honor society, based on nominations from undergraduates.

One student wrote, "Dr. Anderson has unlimited enthusiasm both inside and outside the classroom. He challenges his students, challenges them to look at the world from a different perspective."

Dr. Anderson will be honored at the annual student-faculty brunch to be held May 13 during Senior Week.

In addition, Alpha Sigma Nu, following a tradition of inducting a Jesuit each year as an honorary member, selected the Rev. Gregg Grovenberg, S.J., a member of Campus Ministry.

In a personal note to Dr. Anderson, the Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., University president, commented, "I take this occasion to thank you for what you have done for the student at Fairfield University. The honor that they have given you is, I believe, a reflection of their respect and appreciation."

Dr. Anderson earned a bachelor of arts from Augsburg College in Minnesota and a bachelor of divinity, attending Union Theological Seminary in New York and Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He served as pastor of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Brentwood, N.Y., and went on to receive an M.A. and a Ph.D. from the New School of Social Research in New York.

Starting in 1957, he was an instructor at Adelphi University, a research associate at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and then a member of the faculty at Fairfield, becoming an associate professor of sociology in 1978. During the next 20 years, he achieved wide recognition for conducting seminars for varied groups including Brazilian congressmen, Appalachian school administrators, a delegation from China, educators and bankers. Through his work in executive development training, he was instrumental in bringing the savings bank industry's education program to Fairfield University for the construction of the Center for Financial Studies.

On campus, he served as moderator of the Sociology Club, chaired a Task Force for reaccreditation of the University, chaired the Academic Council, was selected as an honorary inductee of the University chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta, the premedical fraternity, in recognition of his teaching premedical school students, and in 1982, addressed the awards dinner on the subject of "Women in Medicine."

Traveling throughout the country and overseas, he has delivered papers at conferences on stress and the American work ethic, women in health care, pluralism and integration in American society, the role of churches in racial, ethnic, and social class integration, human factors in personnel management, the problems of savings banks in New York City, affirmative action, Catholics and declining vocations, and the impact of changing demographics on the work force.

Dr. Anderson is the author of "Divided We Stand," published in 1978 which focused on America as a society divided on issues of race, social class, religion and political ideology.

In 1985, Augsburg presented to him its distinguished Alumnus Citation, for his excellence in college teaching and for communicating his insights of his discipline to the leaders of American industry.

The Rev. Gregg Grovenberg, S.J., entered the Society of Jesus in 1976, was ordained in 1988 and earned an A.B. from Gonzaga University, a master of divinity from the Weston School of Theology and a diploma in theology from Heythrop College in London, as well as a master's in religious education from Boston College.

Becoming coming to Fairfield, he taught in Belize, served in northern Ireland and worked with the Mission of Charity Brothers on Skid Row in Los Angeles. At Fairfield, he has been an advisor to students, led trips for mission volunteers to Latin America and has conducted retreats.