Distinguished Teaching Awards Presented to Two Faculty Members

Pennsylvania College of Technology honored two faculty members with Distinguished Teaching Awards at Spring Commencement ceremonies held May 16-17 at the Community Arts Center, Williamsport.

The college's highest level of recognition for a faculty member − the Veronica M. Muzic Master Teacher Award − was presented to Dr. William B. Urosevich, associate professor of biology/anatomy and physiology. The award is presented to a faculty member who has at least six years' successful teaching experience at Penn College. The recipient must be representative of the very best faculty, dedicated to providing the highest quality of experience to students.



An Excellence in Teaching Award was presented to Eric D. Pruden, instructor of automotive electronics. Excellence in Teaching Awards are presented each May to full-time faculty members who have been nominated by their students and colleagues for excellence in instructional performance.

Dr. William B. Urosevich
Urosevich, who also received an Excellence in Teaching Award in 1997, began his full-time teaching career at Penn College in July 1993 as an instructor of biology/anatomy and physiology. He was promoted to associate professor in October of that year.

His previous teaching experience includes: adjunct associate professor of optometry and corneal disease/ocular anatomy, University of New York, College of Optometry, 1987-93; adjunct clinical instructor, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, 1992-93; adjunct instructor, chemistry and anatomy, Penn College, 1990-93; and liaison officer, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., 1989-93.

His related professional experience includes private practice in Milton, 1989-93; consultant, primary care optometry, Allenwood Federal Prison, 1990-93; assistant chief of optometry; supervisor of optometric residency program, West Point, 1986; assistant chief of optometry, Dewitt Army Hospital, Fort Belvoir, Va., 1983-86; nuclear weapons officer, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan. 1978-79; and research chemist, U.S. Army Chemical Systems Labs, Edgewood Arsenal, Md., 1976-77.

Urosevich received a doctor of optometry degree with clinical honors from Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Philadelphia. He holds a master of science degree in system management − with a concentration in statistical models, operations research and Markovian models − from the University of Southern California. He earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Wilkes University. He is a graduate of the U.S. Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

Student comments from his nominating documentation include:

• "Dr. Urosevich is the fairest and most nonjudgmental professor I have ever had."


• "I cannot remember one time that I was ever bored in one of Dr. Urosevich's lectures."


• "Dr. Urosevich has a magical way of presenting very difficult information in a way that his class can comprehend and retain."

Eric D. Pruden
Pruden began his employment with the college in 2003. Previously, he was an instructor of automotive technology at Thomas Nelson Community College, Hampton, Va., from 2000-03. From 1994-2000, he was employed by POMOCO AutoGroup, Hampton, Va., and Newport News, Va., as a line technician. He was employed as a brewer by Anheuser Busch Brewery from 1981-2003, and as a roofer for Boyds Roofing Co., Carrollton, Va., from 1988-92.

He earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Christopher Newport University and an associate degree in automotive technology, Ford ASSET Program, from Thomas Nelson Community College. He completed 12 graduate course hours in occupational-technical education at Old Dominion University.

Student comments from his nominating documentation include:

• "He communicates very effectively and will never move past a subject until every student understands it."


• "He is genuinely excited to teach and that makes his students excited to learn."

Since 1982, 78 Distinguished Teaching Awards have been presented at Penn College and its immediate predecessor institution, Williamsport Area Community College.

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