Professor Kingston Heath, director of the Historic Preservation Program, has been awarded the 2014 Excellence Award for Directors of Graduate Studies by the UO Graduate School. The honor will be formally presented during the Director of Graduate Studies spring meeting at approximately 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 28, in the Knight Library Browsing Room.

“I am humbled by the recognition and truly appreciative,” Heath said. “Mentoring students along their journey as professionals is the most fulfilling aspect of my role as a program director.”

In 2011, the Graduate School developed the Excellence Award for Directors of Graduate Studies and the Excellence Award for Graduate Coordinators as a way both to recognize the good work of the faculty and staff who lead and manage graduate programs, and to provide a venue for identifying and disseminating best practices that enhance the overall quality of graduate education at the University of Oregon.

The Excellence Award is designed to recognize those faculty members who exceed expectations by making innovative or unique contributions that positively impact the quality of the graduate program and/or student experience. The award recipient receives a $500 research award in his or her name to be granted to a graduate student in their department, a plaque commemorating the award, and recognition at the spring Director of Graduate Studies meeting.

"Kingston was selected for his leadership in the Historic Preservation Program over the last eleven years. He gave the program more coherence and prominence through bringing in new skilled teachers and experts in the field," says Cortney Mcintyre, admissions and recruitment manager for the Graduate School. "He encouraged and funded program-wide opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience which significantly bolstered the program’s prominence for its mix of theoretical and practical/experiential research. Kingston has worked collaboratively with other programs, shaped practical and forward-thinking career tracks for master’s students, increased cohort numbers, and lowered the average time to degree in the program. His excellence combines strong personal mentorship of students with a leader’s ability to gain grants and donations. His students write glowingly of his mix of scholarly distinction, professional skill, and personal caring."

Heath plans to grant his award to Noah Kerr, a Historic Preservation Program GTF whose thesis committee Heath chaired. Kerr hopes to begin studies toward his PhD in landscape architecture at UO beginning fall 2014.

Above: (left) Professor Kingston Heath, (right) Noah Kerr