Dr. Tino Wilfong Receives Allegany College of Maryland's Outstanding Teaching Award

 

 
CUMBERLAND, Md.—June 27, 2024—Tino G. Wilfong, PhD, an associate professor of English at Allegany College of Maryland (ACM), was honored with the college’s Miriam Sanner Award for Outstanding Teaching.   

Wilfong holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and two master’s degrees and a doctoral degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He joined ACM’s faculty in 2015, and resides in Pennsylvania.

Wilfong was commended for his teaching range and expertise. He teaches two levels of composition, literature, and business and technical writing courses in web-based, blended, and face-to-face formats. A former Composition II student shared that, “Professor Wilfong provides a comfortable space for students to learn and become more knowledgeable in writing papers.” A student in one of his Business and Technical Writing courses cited Wilfong’s talent for critiquing students’ works. “He offers sound feedback. His critique is firm but polite. He always gives inspiring, positive feedback.”  

Prof. Jenna Gallion, who chairs ACM’s Division of Arts and Humanities, nominated Wilfong for the award. Within the nomination, emphasized Wilfong’s supportive relationships with students. “Even in web modalities, students commend his communication response time and his care for their personal and academic well-being.” She highlighted his rapport with students and willingness to make time after class to answer questions. “Tino’s magic power is that he truly listens to students.”

His commitment to teaching excellence benefits English majors, non-majors, and early college students as well as the college. A few examples from Wilfong’s nomination are as follows: 

• Wilfong was the first faculty member to teach an intensive capstone course for English majors after helping develop the course. 
• He selects and mentors the student editors of Expressions literary magazine and serves as its faculty editor. He even ensured that a student editor accepted the national Best Magazine Award in person from the Community College Humanities Association in 2023.
• Wilfong stays current to engage students in his writing courses. He now incorporates an acceptable use of AI (Artificial Intelligence) into his class assignments after examining the practical and ethical use of generative AI writing.  

Wilfong is the 38th recipient of the Sanner Award, established by Miriam Sanner. Sanner was a former chair of the Allegany College of Maryland Board of Trustees and an ACM Foundation board member. Award nominations are submitted by full-time faculty, staff, or administrators. Each awardee is selected by the Faculty Status Committee, which is a peer group representing full-time faculty members. 

About Allegany College of Maryland  
Allegany College of Maryland is a small, learner-focused college offering 48 associate degrees, 31 certificates, 10 letters of recognition, noncredit workforce development programs, personal enrichment classes, and adult education and literacy services. More than 3,100 credit and 7,000 noncredit students choose ACM each year.