Government Professor David Dessler taught at the College of William and Mary in Virginia for more than 30 years. During that time, David Dessler was repeatedly recognized for his contributions as an educator and earned the college’s Thomas Jefferson Teaching Award early in his career.
Every year, the College of William and Mary gives out different awards and medallions as part of its Charter Day celebrations. Formerly known as Founder’s Day, Charter Day memorializes the day that the college received its charter from the Crown. President John Stewart Bryan began the tradition of celebrating Charter Day on February 8, 1937, and it’s been recognized on that date each year since.
Each Charter Day, the college gives out three Thomas Jefferson prizes: the Thomas Jefferson Prize in Natural Philosophy, the Thomas Jefferson Award, and the Thomas Jefferson Teaching Award. The Thomas Jefferson Prize in Natural Philosophy is given to an undergraduate student who excels in the sciences. Meanwhile, the Thomas Jefferson Award is presented to any member of the William & Mary family who impacted others through their influence or personal activities.
Unlike these two other Thomas Jefferson recognitions, the Thomas Jefferson Teaching Award is reserved solely for members of the college’s faculty. Recipients demonstrated a commitment to bettering society and the individual that matched Thomas Jefferson’s dedication to the cause. This commitment may be demonstrated through the teacher’s concern for their students, or their character or influence.
