Originally published: . Volume 3, No. 9. Source pages: 1, 6.
Dr. Gilda Werner Reed of the U. of New Orleans psychology department has been named in the nation’s top-rated profess- sors, according to Princeton Review’s The Best 300 Professors, published in April by Random House/Princeton Review.
The top list was developed by Princeton Review in collaboration with RateMyProfessor.com, from over 42,000 faculty members nationwide. From this group, 1000 professors were selected and then authors obtained further input from school administrators and students. The top 300 professors were selected and viewed as those who were most able to teach, motivate, inspire, and help make the coursework interesting to their students, as well as responsive and accessible.
The new guidebook is a companion to The Best 376 Colleges, also by Princeton Review.
Three Louisiana professors were included in the top 300. Along with the Dr. Reed, the only psychology instructor, the list included Dr. Peter Burns (political science) from Loyola, and Dr. Chris Suprenant (philosophy) from Tulane.
Dr. Reed is a popular instructor in the U. of New Orleans psychology undergraduate program, teaching eight different courses on campus and online. The Times asked her how she was able to motivate so many students. “I have excellent, inspiring students!” she said. Dr. Reed also explained that she is a strong advocate of public education and that her students truly want to learn. “Mom and dad aren’t paying the bills,” she said. “My students really want to be there. They are a joy to teach!”
Dr. Reed’s involvement in the larger community and her enthusiasm for public life includes a bid for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008 when she won her primary but lost in the general election. She was named Louisiana Woman of the Year in 2008 by BayouBuzz and was named an honorary member of the Jefferson Firefighters Association for her support. She has been honored with a Trailblazer Banquet Award, served on the Jefferson Parish and the Louisiana Democratic committees, and in 2008-2009, Dr. Reed was rated 21st by RateMyProfessors.
She is a “staunch public school advocate” and has interests in the rights of children with disabilities. Among her seven children are two youngsters adopted with disabilities, she explained. And, among her 15 grandchildren are “two multi-ethnic treasures from Belize.” Gilda is herself a survivor of polio.
Dr. Gilda Werner Reed attended University of Southwestern Louisiana, Tulane-Newcomb, and earned her doctorate in applied biological psychology from UNO.
The Huffington Post published the announcement also and chose Dr. Reed as one of 13 professors highlighted. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/06/princeton- review-ratemyprofessor-profs_n_1408972.html)
Dr. Gilda Werner Reed (Photo courtesy Dr. Reed)
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.