The National Association of Schools of Public Affairs honored Robert Durant, a professor in AU's School of Public Affairs, with the 2007 Leslie A. Whittington Excellence in Teaching Award.
Durant received the award last week at the association's annual conference in Seattle, according to an AU press release. The Leslie A. Whittington Excellence in Teaching Award is named after Leslie Whittington, a Georgetown University economics professor who died on Sept. 11, 2001, on the hijacked plane that struck the Pentagon.
The association gives the award to a faculty member who makes great contributions to public service education, according to the press release.
SPA Dean William LeoGrande said it was the most prestigious teaching award in the public administration field.
"It represents [Durant's] excellence compared to thousands of faculty across the United States," he said.
Durant has taught at AU since 2003. Most of his classes have focused on executive branch politics, public management, policy implementation, environmental policy and administrative reform, according to the statement.
-KIM SELMAN
