Dr. Dan C. Messerschmidt has been selected as the 2008-09 recipient of the Sydnor Professorship Award for Teaching Excellence in LC's School of Business and Economics.
His primary teaching interests are in the areas of international economics and financial institutions and markets, helping his students to develop a breadth and depth of knowledge of the world and understand the importance of the integrated international marketplace.
This is the second time Dr. Messerschmidt has received the award, which is named after C. Raine Sydnor Sr., a distinguished LC alumnus and founder of the College's Board of Overseers, on which he served from 1965 until his death in 1983.
Nominations are submitted by students or faculty colleagues. The Sydnor Professorship recognizes teaching excellence in business by honoring a teacher who has demonstrated a dedication to classroom excellence, a commitment to advising and supervising students, and effectiveness in business education instruction.
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Dr. Messerschmidt has served the College in many capacities including dean of the School of Business and Economics and chair of the Department of Economics prior to its becoming part of the School of Business and Economics. He also served as director of the Center for Economic Education, director of two Eisenhower Mathematics and Science grants, and served on the coordinating committee for the last two Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS) self-studies and on numerous faculty committees.
Dr. Messerschmidt participated in three faculty development seminars in Japan and one in South Korea, has served as co-leader of two European Union study abroad seminars, and will be leading a "Doing Business in China" study abroad course in summer 2009.
During his time at the College, Dr. Messerschmidt has been active in numerous organizations in the region and state. He is a member of the Governor's Advisory Board of Economics for Virginia, a director of the Region 2000 Technology Council, a member of the board of the Region 2000 Partnership Coordinating Committee, and treasurer of the Lynchburg Business Development Centre. He has served as president of the Region 2000 Technology Council, two terms as the president of the Piedmont World Trade Council, and as president of the Virginia Association of Economists.
Dr. Messerschmidt joined the Lynchburg College faculty in 1985 after teaching at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Westminster College, and Iowa State University. He earned a Ph.D. and B.S. in economics from Iowa State University.