2009 Outstanding Teacher Award: Bruce Cutter
BRUCE CUTTER is a professor of forestry and associate director of the Office of Academic Programs. His research details the relationship between tree growth and environmental influences. He teaches forest use, wildland fire management, wood technology, logging systems and wood quality.
"Bruce reports that when he began teaching at MU, the basic lecture was his only pedagogical approach," said Mark Ryan, director of the MU School of Natural Resources. "Over the years he has expanded his repertoire. He still lectures from the blackboard, uses BlackBoard to engage students outside of class, mixes PowerPoint presentations with peer-learning projects and teaches complete experiential courses in the field. Currently he is working to develop an online version of the Research Methods course and he is working with faculty and students in the College of Education to implement problem-based learning approaches in his Wildland Fire Management course. Without a doubt, this is an 'old dog' learning new tricks."
"I have always suspected that he is a favorite of students," said Gene Garrett, professor and director of the Center for Agroforestry. "Our offices adjoin and I have observed a constant flow of students into his office to discuss everything imaginable – very often on personal matters. I am impressed with the thoughtful counseling that Dr. Cutter provides."
"Dr. Cutter's enthusiasm for class cannot be overlooked," said Cameron Olson, sophomore mechanical engineering student. "He always seemed happy to be teaching us, and his enthusiasm had a positive effect on the entire class."