At the 2012 Commencement exercises, Jeffrey Rutherford, assistant professor of history was presented with the Rev. Edward Gannon, S.J. Outstanding Teaching Award. Dr. Rutherford joins a long list of history faculty who have been honored in this manner, including Dr. John Cox in 2002 and Dr. Joseph Laker in 2004.

Dr. Rutherford joined the history department in 2008 and quickly gained a reputation for being a charismatic and demanding teacher who demonstrates the Jesuit ideal of eloquentia perfecta. His specialization in modern German history has introduced WJU students to a variety of courses including World War II, the Holocaust and Comparative Genocide.

Dr. Rutherford’s commitment to teaching stretches far beyond the confines of the classroom. Understanding that international travel will help broaden one’s understanding of historical developments, he has organized student trips to both France and Germany and is slated to take another group to Austria in the spring of 2013.

Members of the history department are proud of Dr. Rutherford’s accomplishment and are honored to have him as a colleague.