Hometown Professor Wins Award

By Darleen Sanford
Posted: October 13, 2008

Lifelong Clarksville resident, Linda Shenk, now an assistant professor of English at Iowa State University, was recently named the Jerry Shakeshaft Master Teacher in Humanities and Social Sciences for the 2008-09 academic year in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The Shakeshaft Master Teacher title is awarded annually at Iowa State to an outstanding teacher in the humanities and social sciences in honor of Jerry Shakeshaft, a long-time political science professor at Iowa State who was dedicated to the principle of undergraduate teaching.

Linda’s enthusiasm for teaching the works of Shakespeare and early modern British Literature have earned her the affectionate nickname “Shenkspeare” among her students. One colleague observed, “Her classroom style allows students to see Shakespeare as a source of humor, brilliant thinking and fun—something they can adapt to various uses as English majors, teachers or good citizens.” Linda Shenk enables her students to be active learners and “teaches with the utmost enthusiasm and passion for her subject and students.” While doing that, she is also creating hometown pride. Congratulations, Linda.

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