The John S. King Memorial Teaching Award

Recognizing high standards of teaching excellence and concern for students

The John S. King Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching was established by friends, colleagues and former students to recognize those teacher-scholars whose high standards of teaching excellence and concern for students reflect Professor King's ideals.

John S. King was a beloved professor of German who taught at Connecticut College from 1971 to 1995. A devoted and gifted teacher, Professor King was known for his unfailing grace, natural courtesy and generous spirit.

Professor King had a longtime interest in 19th-century German fiction. He was chair of Connecticut College's German department for all but two years from 1979 to 1991. For many years he was in charge of first-year German instruction, a capacity in which he was well-loved for introducing the rich language and literature to hundreds of students.

Professor King received his doctorate and master's degrees in German literature from Brown University and his bachelor's degree in German from Indiana University. He was dean of freshmen at Connecticut College in 1977-78, acting associate dean of the College in 1981-82 and acting dean of the College in 1983-84.