Ed Snyder, director of the Institute of Environmental and Physical Sciences and professor of environmental studies at Shepherd University, was recently nominated as one of five finalists for the Faculty Merit Foundation of West Virginia’s 2010 Professor of the Year honor.

Snyder, who joined SU’s staff in 1986, earned his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. He was named Shepherd’s Teacher of the Year in 1991.

In 1994 he launched the environmental studies program at Shepherd which was introduced as a major course of study in 1997. He has secured many grants for Shepherd and said that it’s worthwhile for him to see resources come to Shepherd’s campus.

“That to me is the reward and recognition – when you see students gain and do things they wouldn’t have if we hadn’t brought resources to campus; that is the fun part,” Snyder said in a release.

The Faculty Merit Foundation started to recognize and reward excellence in higher education at private and public colleges in the state. Candidates are nominated by students and colleagues in the fall.

The five finalists will be honored at a March reception and banquet in Charleston where the 2010 Professor of the Year will be announced.

The award winner receives a $10,000 cash prize, with smaller awards to the other finalists. The Professor of the Year award is presented with financial support from United Bank.

Snyder said he is in good company along with past professors who have been finalists and recipients of the award. Previous Shepherd honorees of the award include Scott Beard and Jerry Thomas, finalists in 2009 and 2007, and Sylvia Bailey Shurbutt and Linda Tate, winners in 2006 and 2004.