Scharstein Garners Perkins Award

Author: Craig Szela

At Middlebury College teaching excellence measured through student evaluation is a criterion for promotion and pay raises. It is also a criterion for the Perkins Award. This award, established in 1993 by the Perkins family, recognizes teaching excellence in the natural nciences. This year's recipient is Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science Daniel Scharstein.

Scharstein said that he makes it a point to understand his students. "It has to do with having some sort of feel for how the students are liking it," he commented. On top of taking into account the student evaluation forms, he explained, "I also do my own mid-term evaluations to get more-feedback."

Along with his attention to students' needs, it is his enthusiasm that sets him apart. "Sometimes they say what they like is my energy," stated Scharstein.

"He obviously loves the subject," remarked Russell Zager '04, who is currently enrolled in Scharstein's Computer Systems and Assembly Language class.

Scharstein is originally from a town near Stuttgart, Germany. While studying at the Universität Karlsruhe, he applied to study abroad in the United States and was accepted at Cornell University, where he began studying in 1990.

Although initially enrolled only for a year, he decided to stay at the University where he met and married Associate Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science Amy Briggs. She was three years ahead of him when she accepted a position at Middlebury College. Scharstein decided to move with her to Middlebury, where, in an office space next to Briggs', he finished his Ph.D. work.

Used to large impersonal German universities, Scharstein did not become interested in teaching until he saw Briggs working at this small liberal arts college. Working for three years at her side, "I got excited about watching her teach at Middlebury," he said. When a faculty position opened up, he applied for it and was accepted.

Scharstein's area of interest lies in computer vision, especially stereo-vision and image-based rendering. Some of his past work includes "view synthesis using stereo vision," "comparative study of stereo visual algorithms" and "mobile robot navigation using self-similar visual landmarks."

Scharstein is a professor passionate about teaching and about computer science. He is well liked by students such as Grayson Stuntz '02, who was enrolled in his class Data Structures and Program Design. "He is very accommodating to students outside of class," said Stuntz, who commended Scharstein for his ability to assess what kind of help his students require. "I like his pace," Stuntz continued.

The Perkins Award rotates annually between the mathematics and computer science faculty and the lab science faculty and is strictly based upon the student evaluations. Each department's Student Advisory Committee (SAC), consisting of at least one junior major and one senior major, must submit letters of recommendation for the award, all of which are strictly based upon the student evaluations of the teacher.

"This process is what drives the nomination process," commented James Larrabee, associate dean of the faculty and professor of chemistry. Larrabee and a senior member of the faculty then review the letters and select the recipient.