Bishop Herbert Welch Meritorious Teaching Award (2011)

2010-2011 Commencement Ceremony Excerpt

I am delighted to announce that the winner of the Welch Award for the Year 2011 is professor of theatre and dance, Dr. Bonnie Milne Gardner.

Dr. Gardner received her B.A. in Theatre and Dance from Ohio Wesleyan University, her master’s in Theatre from the University of Akron and her Ph.D. in Theatre from Kent State University. Dr. Gardner returned to Ohio Wesleyan in 1985, where, as a student, she received the Wesleyan Player Award, given to our outstanding senior. Bonnie teaches a wide range of courses including Playwriting, Directing, Oral Interpretation, Acting, Stage Makeup, and Arts Management. She has been chair of the Theatre and Dance Department and served on numerous faculty committees.

She has written numerous plays for Ohio Wesleyan and for theatre companies across the country.

In the words of her students, and I quote…“Dr. Gardner is enthusiastic and passionate with everything she does. She brings out the best in her students.” Another student states, “It is enlightening to observe how she establishes positive relationships with her students.” And finally as one student puts it…“Bonnie is sweet beans; she is cool.”

(Truly, little more can be said.)

Bonnie, congratulations!