'A once-in-a-lifetime instructor'

Susan Anderson didn’t know what to expect when USC President Harris Pastides and camera crews showed up in her classroom Oct. 23.

“I was teaching a class and all of a sudden there were TV camera crews. I continued with my lecture until they told me the news,” Anderson said.  “I was so shocked and exhilarated.”

Anderson, also artistic director for the USC Dance Program as well as the USC Dance Conservatory, is the 2009 recipient of the SC Governor’s Professor of the Year award by the SC Commission on Higher Education, and is among a small group of professors that have received the award since its inception in 1988.

Anderson received the award in recognition of her dedication to the growth of the USC Dance Department. Anderson first started at the university in 1975 teaching a modern dance class. She has been a professor for the university for 33 years.

Throughout the last four years, the dance department has added more classes, brought in guest choreographers and added the dance education major. Anderson also pushed to build the new dance facility that opened this year.

“Every good idea starts with the basic idea and funding,” Anderson said. I knew we needed a facility. We were having to teach at the basement of the P.E. center. When dancers would try and do partner lifts they would knock the ceiling tiles.”

Commission on Higher Education Chairman Ken Wingate said Anderson’s contribution is seen in the classroom as well as in the community.

“Professor Anderson is one of those once-in-a-lifetime instructors. Her success in the classroom and in the professional dance community is remarkable,” Wingate said.

Pastides also said that Anderson has helped the dance department’s good reputation grow.

“She is highly regarded among educators for her ability to create performance opportunities for students by bringing guest choreographers and stars of the most prestigious dance companies in the world to Carolina,” Pastides said.

The award was officially presented to Anderson during three ceremonies last Thursday.

“I first was presented with the award at the capital building. From there I traveled to the Commission on Higher Education building to receive the award again,” Anderson said.  “Then finally, there was a luncheon, where I got to meet my competition, where I accepted it again.”

This is the second award Anderson has received this year. She also was the recipient of the Michael J. Mungo Distinguished Professor Award, which is University of South Carolina’s highest award for teaching.