UC Faculty Awards 2020: David Rapien
Barbour Award for Good Faculty-Student Relations goes to Lindner College of Business professor
Associate Professor-Educator David Rapien’s students just flat-out love him.
The numbers don’t lie: Since he began teaching classes at the University of Cincinnati Carl H. Lindner College of Business in 2013, the 4,300-plus students Rapien has taught have given him an average rating of 7.63 out of eight on student evaluations. But the real gold is in the comments they leave for him. Among them:
“This professor is the real deal. Seriously. I wish he had a class where there was no course and he just talked to you about whatever he thought was important to know.”
“Probably the best professor I have had to not only prepare me for the future in my studies, but my future after I graduate as well.”
“Rapien is a rare gem of a human being.”
Associate Professor-Instructor David Rapien, left, is the 2020 recipient of the George Barbour Award for Good Faculty-Student Relations. Photo/Lisa Ventre/UC Creative + Brand
Based on comments such as these alone, it’s little wonder that Rapien has been named the 2020 recipient of the George Barbour Award for Good Faculty-Student Relations. Several of Rapien’s former students wrote in to support his nomination, as did his peers.
It’s probably fair to say that Rapien loves his students, as well. He’s the faculty advisor for six student groups at UC, and is a UC Turner Scholars Champion.
“Over the last seven years as a faculty member, Dave has routinely gone so far above and beyond the expectations of every student-oriented role he has filled that he single-handedly redefines what these roles represent,” wrote fellow Lindner professor Craig Froehle — himself a past Barbour Award winner — in his letter supporting Rapien’s nomination.
“I am humbled,” Rapien says. “I know many of the award recipients. These are my role models and the people I strive to emulate. When I was told that I am being recognized among them, I realized that my size 17 feet were way too small to fill their shoes, but I am excited to walk with them.”
David Rapien is "a rare gem of a human being," according to one of his students in an anonymous instructor evaluation. Photo/Lisa Ventre/UC Creative + Brand
For Rapien, good faculty-student relations are about more than just being well-liked. It boils down to one word: Respect.
“I am surrounded by people with minds and talents that I could not dream to have,” Rapien says. “This includes faculty, staff and especially students. These are all adults. When you invite them to share their abilities to better our world, when you give them the knowledge and tools to do it, and you do it with the respect they deserve and have earned, good relations are the outcome.”
Featured image at top: Lindner Hall, home of the Carl H. Lindner College of Business
UC Faculty Awards
UC is saluting the 16 winners of our 2020 All-University Faculty Awards in a three-part series in UC News weekly through April 22. Beginning April 23, all winners will also be showcased on the Faculty Awards website.
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