Paul Christesen '88, assistant professor of classics at Dartmouth, was named the New Hampshire Professor of the Year by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching on Thursday. Each year CASE honors four professors nationally and several Aon the state level for their commitment to undergraduate teaching. They focus on criteria including professors' involvement with students, scholarly approach to teaching and learning, contributions to the undergraduate institution and recommendations from colleagues and current and former students. According to Dean of Faculty Carol Folt, Christesen is known for forming strong relationships with his students and for creating discussion groups and atmospheres that allow students to speak on academic and personal topics. "More than anything else, this award is a reflection of the fact that Dartmouth is an ideal environment for teaching and for learning and a recognition of the outstanding quality of Dartmouth's faculty and student body," Christesen said.