Jean-Philippe Faletta of Eastpointe, a graduate student in Wayne State University's department of political science, has received the 1999 Garrett T. Heberlein Endowed Award for Excellence in Teaching for Graduate Students.

Faletta believes his role as a teacher is to help students increase their understanding of the world and develop their ability to think critically. His students report that he does this exceptionally well.

They give him outstanding marks on teaching evaluations and praise his teaching ability, citing "insightful and sign)ficant discussions" while noting that he is always readily available. One student said Faletta's class was "the best I have ever taken at WSU."

Faletta holds two Wayne State degrees, a bachelor's in political science and Russian and a master's in political science.

The Heberlein Award recognizes a graduate student who demonstrates instructional excellence. It is designed in part to elevate the attention given to teaching as part of graduate education and the preparation of graduate students to serve as college and university teachers. Heberlein established the award after serving as dean of the Graduate School and WSU vice president for research.