English Professor Receives Collins Award

April 3, 1998

Dr. Tom Hanks, professor of English at Baylor University, has been named by the senior class as the recipient of the Collins Outstanding Professor award. As the Collins Professor, Hanks will be recognized at commencement ceremonies on May 16 and will receive a cash award of $10,000. He also delivered a special lecture on the topic "What I've Learned from My Students."
"I still am having trouble believing that I have been elected the Collins Professor," said Hanks. "It is a very great honor. I have been calling my parents and my brothers to tell them. I am grateful to the senior class."
Hanks, who has taught at Baylor since 1976, received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Washington University and his doctorate from the University of Minnesota.
An expert in medieval literature, Hanks has published two books and numerous articles on the works of Sir Thomas Malory and Geoffrey Chaucer, and on children's literature. He also has presented papers at conferences for such associations as the Southeastern Medieval Association, the Texas Medieval Association and the International Congress on Medieval Studies.
Hanks recently was selected to be Baylor's Centennial Professor for 1998-99, an honor that provides him with $3,000 for travel to the British Museum. He was named Outstanding Professor for 1993-94 by the Baylor chapter of Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society, and he was named Mortar Board's "Top Prof" for five consecutive years. He also was selected one of 10 distinguished professors at Baylor in 1983.
The Carr P. Collins Foundation provides funds for the Collins Outstanding Professor program, which was initiated to honor outstanding teachers at Baylor. A professor is elected annually by the senior class.
All full-time faculty members who have taught at least four years as full-time faculty members at Baylor prior to the fall term and have taught during the fall, winter or spring terms of the year of their election are eligible to receive the award.