GRAHAM — Roger Lane and Patricia Dolan were recipients of Alamance Community College’s 2024 Excellence in Teaching Awards.
Lane, a music educator, was the 2024 Faculty Member of the Year.
Lane began teaching at Alamance Community College as an adjunct while working on his doctorate at UNC Greensboro. At first ACC had only one music appreciation class, but over time Lane persuaded the administration to add additional music classes. In 2018, Lane was instrumental in establishing a longtime dream at ACC: a fine arts-music curriculum program that offers an associate’s degree. During Lane’s tenure, the college’s music classes have grown to include music theory, aural skills, applied music, classical music, show choir and introduction to jazz.
“I’m fortunate that I see a reason for music here at ACC and in society,” Lane said. “People in music appreciation class are shocked to learn how important music is in everything we do. It’s a pleasure to be able to teach what you love.”
Dolan, a mathematics instructor, was the 2024 Adjunct Instructor of the Year.
Dolan, a resident of Rutherfordton, has taught online math classes for ACC, including quantitative literary and statistical methods, since the fall semester of 2021. In addition to ACC, she has taught online courses as an adjunct at Isothermal Community College and Liberty University. She has taught for more than 20 years as a high school math instructor at Word of Faith Christian School in Spindale.
As a child, Dolan loved math and always wanted to be a math teacher. But she knows that, for many people, math has a stigma.
Dolan said that that math concepts appear difficult to students simply because they do not understand the concepts or they lack the foundation necessary to make the connection.
“I believe every student has the ability to learn if they are taught with patience and compassion, and if they are willing to put forth the effort,” Dolan said. “Teaching online, I realize how important it is to maintain good communication with my students, and I strive to answer student emails as quickly as possible. I strive to adapt the way I teach to reach my students.”
Both Lane and Dolan will for formally honored at the college’s Celebrating Excellence Awards dinner on Thursday, May 16.
