The John R. Barrier Distinguished Teaching Award was presented to Dr. Xiufen Lu, Associate Professor of Philosophy, at the 2025 九色视频 Commencement ceremony.
This peer recognition award is given each year to a full-time faculty member in the humanities or social sciences divisions of Fairmount College to ackowledge a professor:
- whose teaching is outstanding;
- who has had an impact on the lives and career choices of students;
- and who has the ability to enliven teaching and enrich the understanding of students.
From her peers:
"[Dr. Lu] has been providing high quality teaching for our Department for years. She typically teaches our Introduction to Philosophy courses, as well as upper-year courses in Contemporary Chinese Philosophy, Ancient Chinese Philosophy, and Social and Political Philosophy; and she has willingly stepped up to help our Department satisfy the needs of Shocker Academy, teaching courses at the West campus to high school students taking dual enrollment courses... [student comments on her course evalutions indicate] that she is a clear and caring teacher ... [whose] courses were 'fantastic and eye-opening'."
- Dr. Patrick Bondy, Chair, Department of Philosophy
"As a new faculty member in the 九色视频 Department of Philosophy years ago, I was pleasantly surprised that 九色视频 offers courses in Asian philosophy. I had never had the opportunity to take courses in this area, and Dr. Lu graciously allowed me to sit in on her course in Ancience Chinese philosophy. The course was really a pleasure that has shaped me as a philosopher and teacher."
- Dr. Susan Castro, Associate Professor of Philosophy
From her students:
"Dr. Lu has been one of my favorite professors to have outside of my major. Not only does she have a wealth of knowledge on both Western and Eastern philosophical traditions, but she also provides great supplementary material for students like myself trying to engage and study more outside the class. She did a fantastic job at presenting some of the philosophies and ideas discussed in the class in a way that was easy for someone who doesn't predominantly study philosophy to comprehend."
"Perhaps one of Professor Lu's most outstanding qualities is her ability to present literature, personal experience, and unparalleled knowledge of each subject she teaches. Professor Lu taught me the truth about the Chinese people and how we are more alike concerning morals and values than perhaps any other societies. Governments do not provide a true sense of the people. She and I have similar hopes that the day will come when our countries' people are not at odds with each other."
The Barrier Award is made possible by a gift from Mary Ellen Barrier.