YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. — Young Harris College announced that Associate Professor of Theatre Anne Towns earned the 2021 Vulcan Teaching Excellence Award. The $1,000 award is sponsored by Vulcan Materials Company. It was established in 1991 to honor outstanding professors on select member campuses of the Georgia Independent College Association.
To earn the award, faculty members must assist their institutions in nurturing an academic climate that fosters teaching excellence, and they must provide leadership to enhance the campus community.
“I was overwhelmed to receive this award,” said Towns. “I work so much with majors in my department as opposed to meeting a wide variety of students that I never expected to be considered. It is the greatest compliment I think I’ve ever received, and I am truly grateful.”
Towns earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and a Master of Fine Arts in Directing at Florida State University. She joined the Young Harris College faculty in August 2013. In addition to her role as an associate professor, she serves as a co-coordinator of musical theatre and is the president of the YHC Faculty Senate. Previously, she served as Chair of the Department of Theatre. Towns teaches acting, directing, dramatic literature, theatre history, and voice and diction courses. She has been involved with YHC theatre, musical theatre, theatrical design and production, and dance. She was also the advisor of Delta Gamma, YHC’s former national theatre honor society. Additionally, Towns has participated in the International Michael Chekhov Association, the Southeastern Theatre Conference, the Georgia Theatre Conference, Thescon, and the Belgrade International Workshop.
“Anne Towns’s students know first-hand how much she brings to the classroom and to the stage,” said YHC Provost Dr. Jason Pierce. “She is not only a highly qualified Chekhov-certified master teacher but also a gifted and award-winning actor and director. Her extensive experience as a professional infuses her teaching. Moreover, Professor Towns is a committed faculty servant-leader. YHC is fortunate to have her as a member of the faculty and the community.”
About Young Harris College
Young Harris College is a private baccalaureate and master’s degree-granting institution located in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College has four academic divisions: Fine Arts; Humanities; Mathematics, Science, and Technology; and Professional Studies. More than 1,400 students are enrolled in its residential and Early College programs. The College is an active member of the NCAA Division II and remains a fierce competitor in the prestigious Peach Belt Conference. For more information, visit yhc.edu.
###
