Last night at the Clark College Commencement ceremony I was recognized for receiving the “Exceptional Faculty Award”. There are 5 professors who received this award for the 2017/2018 academic year. There are over 600 faculty members at the college. I am very honored to have received this distinguished award. I want to thank my wife Gayle  Elgort for all her love and support. I’m also extremely grateful to the students who nominated me for this distinguished honor.

Bruce Elgort, Computer Technology

If there is one word to describe computer technology instructor Bruce Elgort, it is probably “connected.” He stays connected to his students through email, social media, and online tools. “Never in the history of teaching has a professor been more available to his students,” raved one student in their nomination.

Elgort is also connected to local industry through his long career in tech, which includes high-level positions at major companies like Sharp and Underwriters Laboratories, as well as launching his own successful software company. And he creates connections in his community, regularly attending (and sometimes speaking at) conferences and inviting others to come with him. “I can’t count the number of events I’ve attended because Bruce posted something on Slack or Facebook—or gave me a digital nudge saying, ‘You should go to this!’” wrote another student.

Small wonder, then, that Elgort has gathered a significant fanbase at Clark since beginning to teach here in 2012. Indeed, this is his second time winning an Exceptional Faculty Award at the college; the first time was in 2013. Elgort says that, since then, he’s become involved in numerous Clark committees and initiatives. In other words, he’s become more, well, connected to Clark—and clearly Clark is all the stronger for it.

I’m blown away…