Media Contact: Robby Piazzaroli, rpiazzaroli@fairfield.edu, 203-254-4000 x2597

This prestigious accolade from the National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing is bestowed annually upon a writing center professional who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to undergraduate student development.

The National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing (NCPTW) has announced Elizabeth H. Boquet, PhD, professor of English and director of the Writing Center at Fairfield University, as the esteemed recipient of the 2023 NCPTW Ron Maxwell Award for Distinguished Leadership in Promoting Collaborative Learning Practices among Peer Tutors in Writing.

This prestigious accolade, also known as the NCPTW Ron Maxwell Leadership Award, is bestowed annually upon a writing center professional who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to undergraduate student development through mentoring peer writing tutors engaged in collaborative learning.

Dr. Boquet's selection for this honor resonates profoundly within the writing center community. Her remarkable history of supporting and mentoring peer writing tutors in diverse settings, coupled with her editorial role at The Writing Center Journal, underscore her influential contributions. Dr. Boquet has also mentored students who have actively participated and presented at NCPTW events over several decades, solidifying her legacy as a leader in collaborative learning practices.

“I can say that we as a department were thrilled to hear of Dr. Boquet's Maxwell Award,” said Nels Pearson, PhD, professor and chair of the English Department at Fairfield. “Thrilled but definitely not surprised. Beth has been a pioneer and a leader in the teaching of writing through peer-to-peer and collaborative student work for over two decades, both at Fairfield and nationally.”

Members of the Maxwell Committee commended Dr. Boquet for her enduring commitment to the evolution of NCPTW. They highlighted her pivotal role as a thought leader within the organization, citing her inspiring keynote addresses and exemplary publications that emphasize the essential role of peer tutors in the teaching of writing. The committee particularly acknowledged Dr. Boquet's values concerning peer tutoring and collaborative learning, which permeate her scholarly work and her longstanding association with NCPTW.

A noteworthy aspect of Dr. Boquet's contributions is her collaboration with undergraduate student researchers, a practice that the committee celebrated as exemplary. By co-authoring and co-researching with peer tutors, Dr. Boquet has not only recognized their invaluable worth but also set a powerful precedent for acknowledging their significant contributions to the field. Carleigh Brower '04, one of Dr. Boquet's former students and a fervent supporter, said, "I can think of no one more deserving of this award than Beth, whose dedication to fostering the work of peer tutors has shaped our field and personally impacted the lives of countless undergraduate students, graduate students, and writing center professionals."

Posted On: December 13, 2023

Volume: 55 Number: 43

Fairfield University is the modern Jesuit University, rooted in one of the world’s oldest intellectual and spiritual traditions. More than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 36 states, 47 foreign countries, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are enrolled in the University’s five schools. In the spirit of rigorous and sympathetic inquiry into all dimensions of human experience, Fairfield welcomes students from diverse backgrounds to share ideas and engage in open conversations. The University is located in the heart of a region where the future takes shape, on a stunning campus on the Connecticut coast just an hour from New York City.