Dr. Alex Richardson Honored With SCICU "Excellence In Teaching Award"

Limestone University Professor Dr. Alex Richardson is the recipient of a 2020 “Excellence in Teaching Award” from the South Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities (SCICU).

Each year, the SCICU recognizes and celebrates the best of the best with its Excellence in Teaching Awards. A faculty member from each of SCICU’s 20 member institutions is nominated for the award, which includes rigorous guidelines. The annual award recipients are each awarded a $3,000 professional development grant.

This is the 15th year that the SCICU has honored leading faculty members at its member schools. The group of teacher-scholars represents many different academic disciplines and brings a rich diversity of education, experience, and interests to South Carolina campuses.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual awards dinner hosted by the SCICU was cancelled. Framed award certificates and the professional development grant checks were recently mailed to the college/university presidents.

The Chair of the Department of English and Communications, Richardson has taught at Limestone for 20 years. In 2009, Richardson was awarded a Fulbright Scholar award for which he taught courses in American culture at the University of Madeira in Portugal. Richardson's poetry has been published in a variety of literary journals and anthologies.

Richardson holds a Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi Center for Writers with specializations in 20th century poetry and creative writing. He also earned an M.A. in Renaissance Literature and a B.A. in English, both from the University of South Carolina.

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized as Limestone’s recipient of this this year’s teaching award from the SCICU,” Richardson said. “It is truly a privilege to work with so many of Limestone’s committed and talented students. We have remarkable faculty members here at Limestone, and I am proud to be a part of this brilliant group of educators.”

Richardson teaches courses in Creative Writing, Literature, Film Studies, and Composition. In addition to his classroom leadership, Dr. Richardson serves as faculty advisor for the Limestone men’s tennis team. He has served two terms on the faculty development committee. He is a three-time recipient of the Fullerton Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award.

“Alex Richardson is a dedicated and nurturing educator,” said Limestone University President Dr. Darrell Parker. “It is clear that he develops great relationships with his scholars and his peers. Alex is a multi-faceted, creative, and talented faculty member who brings joy to Limestone’s campus.”

He added that Richardson has a passion for active teaching and an abiding commitment to supporting students as they develop critical thinking and language skills, which are the touchstones of Richardson’s 25-year career in the classroom.

“There are common threads that weave their way through this distinguished group of academicians,” an official with the SCICU noted about this year’s award winners. “First and foremost, they are educators who come to our liberal arts institutions to work one-on-one with students whom they also serve as advisers, mentors, and friends. They are dedicated and committed professionals who work long and hard to be the best in their particular academic disciple in order to instruct and guide future generations as their life’s work. These professionals are value-centered, passionate, creative, and caring.”

Accompanying Photo: Limestone Professor Dr. Alex Richardson holds his framed certificate naming him as the University’s recipient of the 2020 SCICU Excellence In Teaching Award.