More than 40 faculty members from various Northwestern departments were named to the faculty honor roll Tuesday afternoon. The professors were divided into different categories based on the size of the classes they taught and the percentage of students who nominated them.

Jay Grossman, professor and director of the American Studies Program, said he appreciated being recognized by students, especially ones in such a competitive program.

“I am in the enviable position of directing American Studies in a school with a lot of star students,” Grossman said. “We get some of the best and it’s an excellent opportunity to teach them.”

Grossman, a first-time honoree, said he had not known about the faculty honor roll and he hoped there would be more awareness about it in the future.

“To be recognized for doing a great job with these students is amazing and wonderful,” he said. “I appreciate learning from them as much as teaching them.”

Medill freshman Christy Schmitz, a member of the Associated Student Government Academic Committee, helped to organize Tuesday’s reception.

“Since I am a freshman, I don’t know a lot of faculty members yet,” Schmitz said. “This has been a great way to get to know more of them.”

Schmitz said faculty honor roll members were nominated by students in a poll on Hereandnow. She said the results were tallied and winners were announced in different categories late last week. She said a reception to honor the faculty would consist of several speeches by students talking about what makes a professor great and what they liked best about some of their classes. Each faculty honoree would receive an award, she said.

“It’s all about appreciation,” Schmitz said. “This is a forum for (faculty) to recognize each other and for students to honor them for their work.”

Several faculty members who won said what they most enjoyed about winning was that they were not chosen by the administration.

“It’s meaningful because it comes from the students,” said Susan Pagentini, a music professor and first-time honoree. “Theirs are the opinions that matter.”

Jeffrey Winters, a political science professor and first-time honoree, said the win was a validation of his interaction with his class.

“I feel especially honored because I know it comes from student initiative, and that means a lot,” Winters said. “It means that even though I assign too much reading, the students still enjoy the class and still get a lot out of it.”

Reach Aliza Appelbaum at [email protected].