UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 10, Page 3
November 3, 1994
Awards honor, excellence

     John L. Burmeister, associate chairperson and Alumni
Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, was recently
named the 1994 Delaware Professor of the Year by the Council for the
Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). He also has been honored
by the Delaware Academy of Science, which has just named him the
Distinguished Delaware Scientist for 1994.
     The CASE award is funded by the Carnegie Foundation for the
Advancement of Teaching and honors the most outstanding undergraduate
instructors in the country-those who excel as teachers and influence
the lives and careers of their students. It is recognized as one of
the most prestigious awards honoring professors.
     The award from the Delaware Academy of Science includes an
invitation to address the academy at its annual meeting scheduled this
year for 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1, in the Ewing Room of the Perkins
Student Center on the University's Newark campus. The award
presentation will follow the talk.
     Burmeister is a native of Butler, Pa., and received his
bachelor's degree in chemistry through a fully funded scholarship to
Franklin and Marshall College. He earned his doctorate in inorganic
chemistry at Northwestern University in 1964.
     His first teaching position was as an instructor in inorganic
chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana. He joined the
University of Delaware's chemistry department in 1964 and was its
first inorganic chemist.
     He is a two-time recipient of the University's Excellence in
Teaching Award and the recipient of a national excellence-in-teaching
award from the Chemical Manufacturers Association. His distinguished
professorship also is awarded in recognition of outstanding teaching
and commitment to students.
     "I think there are teachers who are more charismatic than I am
and ones who have more gimmicks, but there is no one who is ever more
honored to be in front of students than I," Burmeister said.
                                                          -Beth Thomas