February 20, 2004

Department of English chair lauded as 2004 academic leader

by Francesca Trees, A'04, Intern in the Offices of Public Affairs and Publications

A colleague of Department of English Chair and Professor Mary McCay wrote, "She merits this highest honor at Loyola University because of her excellence in teaching, advising, administration, service, and research." McCay's honors and accomplishments, along with the many accolades made by her colleagues and students, earned her the 2004 Dux Academicus Award. Dux recipients, who are nominated by colleagues, students, and former students, are honored for leadership, outstanding achievements in teaching and scholarship, and notable contributions to the quality of life in the Loyola community.

McCay has been a member of the Loyola faculty since 1989, serving as chair of the Department of English since 1992. She is also co-adviser of American studies minor, director of the Loyola Irish studies program, co-director of the Loyola Americans in Paris summer program, liaison for the Keele University exchange program, and the liaison for the University of Nijmegan exchange program. McCay dedicated the award to the memory of Julian Wasserman, a colleague and former Dux winner, who died last year.

Both her colleagues and her students have acknowledged McCay's commitment to Loyola. In nominating her for the award, a colleague wrote, "From the first time I saw her teach, I recognized that we were extremely fortunate to be hiring such a knowledgeable professor who works diligently to involve each student in the class." A former student continued, "I highly respect Dr. McCay for her teaching style and her ability to create a safe and exciting learning environment. In many of her classes, students and professor form a circle of desks to exchange ideas and to challenge each other. In many instances, it was clear that Dr. McCay was just as interested in learning from us as we were from her."

When in college, McCay trained as an Olympic swimmer, but she gave it up because she couldn't read while swimming. She then went on to receive a bachelor of arts at Catholic University of America, a master of arts from Boston College, and a doctorate from Tufts University. Her previous teaching experience includes the University of Massachusetts in Boston, Keele University, and Harvard University where she taught in the Sloane Summer Institute at the Kennedy School of Government. This recent honor adds to a growing list of achievements. Just last year McCay received the Arts and Sciences Excellence in Advising Award. She also received a Fulbright scholarship to teach American literature in Japan.

A former student wrote, "I had assumed that as rigorous an academic as she is and as tirelessly as she works to teach and support her students, she would have received this award long ago."

McCay has published numerous books and articles, participated in scholarly conferences, issued a plethora of reviews for The Times-Picayune, and provides oversight for The New Orleans Review and Revisions.

A colleague wrote, "Mary involves readers with authors and books that they might not have known about or studied critically before. This writing, like her workshops in schools and libraries, brings serious study of literature to a wide audience."