Russell S. Sobel was among 10 faculty members vying for the second June Harless Award for Exceptional Teaching, said C.B. Wilson, associate provost for academic personnel and chairman of the award committee.

The award was made possible by a contribution from Gene A. Budig, WVU's 17^th president and now senior adviser to the commissioner of Major League Baseball. It is named for the deceased wife of James "Buck" Harless, a Mingo County coal executive and member of the University System Board of Trustees. Candidates for the award are judged on success and achievements as a teacher.

Sobel joined WVU's College of Business and Economics in 1994 as an assistant professor in the Department of Economics. He teaches principles of microeconomics, principles of macroeconomics, and courses in government tax and expenditure policy.

In addition to teaching, Sobel is a researcher whose work focuses on the economic effects of state and local tax policy and political behavior. He has also co-written an economics textbook.

His other teaching awards are the Department of Economics Outstanding Teacher Award, the College of Business and Economics Outstanding Teacher Award, the University Golden Apple Award for Outstanding Teaching and the WVU Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching. He has also won his college's Outstanding Researcher Award.

Harless Award recipients receive a $5,000 stipend to be used for equipment, supplies, travel or salary support. All faculty are eligible for the award, and one award will be given each year through 2003.

Last year's award went to physics Professor Boyd Edwards.

Jan. 10, 2000