Gustavus Adolphus College Professor in English and African Studies Philip Bryant ’73 received the 2024 Faculty Scholarly Achievement Award at the College’s annual Honors Day Convocation on Saturday, May 5.
The award is nominated by the Gustavus faculty and is the highest accolade a faculty member can achieve for distinguished scholarly accomplishments.
Bryant, who is retiring at the end of this academic year after 35 years on the Gustavus faculty, was lauded by Provost Brenda Kelly for his many achievements during his time at Gustavus, including publishing four books of poetry and biographies for young readers, and for work that has appeared in such notable publications as The Iowa Review, The American Poetry Review, and The North Coast Review.
The man students fondly refer to as “Professor B” also has won a Jerome Foundation Grant, the Minnesota Voices Literary Competition, a Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Fellowship, and he was also nominated for the Minnesota Book Award for poetry. Bryant has also served on the governing board of the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis and has twice been a fellow of the Minnesota State Arts Board. He is currently the Hanson-Peterson Endowed Professor of Liberal Studies and previously won the 2021 Edgar M. Carlson Award for Distinguished Teaching
Grant proposals Bryant wrote collaboratively for the Minnesota Humanities Commission in the 1990s funded two literary reading series, “Yes, Poetry Matters” and “Yes, Literature Matters.” Both series brought nationally recognized writers to the Saint Peter community. And although he is retiring in 2024, Bryant will continue writing and is currently working on another book of poetry.
In addition to his productivity outside the classroom, Bryant is best known around the Hill for what he brings to the everyday learning experience. Students repeatedly have applauded his engaging storytelling, nurturing demeanor, and sense of humor, and the way he uses every opportunity with students to expand the discussions around a lesson. As much as he has inspired them, the feeling is mutual. “The students, they’re so surprising in what they bring to the classroom,” Bryant said upon winning the Carlson award. “Not just information, but a part of themselves. The intellect grows in that kind of environment.”
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First awarded in 1986, the Faculty Scholarly Achievement Award was reestablished in 2004 and is now announced during the annual Honors Day Convocation. Award recipients are nominated for this honor by fellow faculty members based on professional accomplishments regarding research activities in private, public, or corporate settings; publication; presentations at scholarly meetings or conferences; and exhibits or performances.