Professor of History Anthony Makowski Receives the College’s Highest Honor for Excellence in Teaching
(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA • May 10, 2021)—Delaware County Community College recently awarded the 2021 Gould Award, its highest honor for excellence in teaching, to Professor of History Anthony Makowski of Lansdale. Makowski has taught at the college for eighteen years; he has published works on history, including on World War II, British, French and Polish history, and serves as the coordinator for the College’s History Degree Program.
Named after the late Jerry Gould, a founding trustee of the College, the Gould award is presented each year to a faculty member whose achievement, dedication and love of teaching inspire both students and colleagues. Students are the primary nominators for the award.
Usually, the Gould Award winner is announced at commencement, but due to COVID-19, the College announced this year’s winner during a virtual faculty meeting. In announcing the Gould awardee, Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Marian McGorry shared students’ comments about Makowski, who students describe as engaging, encouraging, informative and interesting. Many students also appreciated that during the pandemic, when learning shifted from in-person to online instruction, Makowski went out of his way to provide extensive feedback on students’ assignments.
“He writes in-depth paragraph responses to all of my assignments … where he finds the time, I will never know,” said one student, who said she plans to become a history teacher and hopes to replicate some of Makowski’s techniques when she becomes a teacher. “Even when Professor Makowski makes a critique, it almost feels like a compliment.”
Another student said that “transitioning to online courses has actually further distinguished Professor Makowski” because he is “excellent at communicating with students,” provides comprehensive feedback and “cares about the education of his students.”
One student said he was inspired by Makowski. “The phrase, ‘Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life,’ could not be truer for Professor Makowski. His love for history and teaching inspires us every day.”
Makowski has a Master of Arts from Villanova University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Delaware. He and fellow faculty member, Sociology Professor Dr. Chuck Baker, a Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching recipient, co-wrote Globalization: A Textbook for the Social Sciences. Makowski’s scholarly interests include global history, international relations, and modern economic and social history. He also founded a scholarship at the College in the memory of his parents, Ellen and Paul Makowski.
