Samuel H. Wolcott Professor of Philosophy Alison Simmons received a Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Prize at this year's commencement exercises. The prizes, awarded to candidates chosen from among those nominated by Phi Beta Kappa undergraduate members, were awarded to only three faculty members this year: Simmons (Philosophy), Philip Fisher (English), and Thomas Torello (Biology).
Former acting dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and Pope Professor of the Latin language and literature Richard Tarrant noted that students praised Simmons' dedication to her students and advisees, her ability to make "difficult thinkers comprehensible," and her commitment to expanding and her ease in traversing the borders of philosophy.
This is not the first time Simmons' undergraduate teaching has been singled out for recognition by the university. In 2011, Simmons was one of five faculty members named a Harvard College Professor.