Elizabeth Furdell Named Distinguished Professor at UNF

JACKSONVILLE--Elizabeth Lane Furdell’s dual dedication to teaching and scholarship have led her to being named the University of North Florida’s Distinguished Professor for 2002-2003.

The history professor has a bachelor’s from the University of Washington and master’s and doctoral degrees from Kent State. She spent 12 years teaching at the College of Great Falls in Montana before coming to UNF in 1983. She became coordinator of the freshman core classes and over the years has taught more than 10,000 students.

“As a result of her role as director of the History Department's required Freshman Core courses, for many of our students Dr. Furdell's face is the one they think of when they think of the study of history,” said Mark Workman, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. By all accounts a lot of people come out of those classes with a love for the subject and thus a love for Betty Furdell. She is an asset to the college and an asset to the University.”

These days she can best be described as a prolific author. She has published three books in the last four years and has a steady timeline of several more. While researching Queen Anne 20 years ago Furdell realized no one had ever made a list of the physicians who had served the royal courts. Medical history of the Tudor/Stuart era is now her specialty.

Her most recent books have included Print and Pills: Publishing and Medicine in Early Modern England; The Royal Doctors: Medical Personnel at the Tudor and Stuart Courts and James Welwood: Physician to the Glorious Revolution.

Her next book will be a social history of diabetes as two of her “royal doctors” as she calls them affectionately, were among the first to discover the disease.
In addition to her scholarly work Furdell has been active in the community. She was a member of the Leadership Jacksonville class of 1992 and is currently serving on the board of directors for Youth Leadership Jacksonville. She served on the American Cancer Society-Duval Unit from 1993-8 and was the patient programs chair for several years.

Photo: of Elizabeth Furdell is available electronically by calling News&Publications at 620-2140.

Other Winners

The runner up for the Distinguished Professor Award was Iver Iverson. Outstanding Faculty Scholarship Awards were given to Thomas Barton, David Courtwright and Linda Foley. Outstanding faculty Service Awards were given to Ray Bowman, Paul mason and Lucy Trice. Recognized for Outstanding Undergraduate teaching Awards were Sharon Cobb, Daniel Dreibelbis. Roger Eggen, Edward Johnson, Hans Koegler, Kristine Webb and Pamela Zeiser. Zeiser was also selected as the University’s nominee for the 2001-2002 Carnegie Foundation Professor of the Year award.