Hobart and William Smith Colleges

3 August 2026 • Alums Alumni Honor Professors Lowell W. Bloss and Carol V.R. George with Distinguished Faculty Award

The 2026 Distinguished Faculty Award recognizes two educators whose teaching, mentorship and scholarship shaped generations of Hobart and William Smith students.

The Hobart and William Smith Alumni/ae Association will honor Lowell W. Bloss, Professor Emeritus of Asian Languages and Cultures, and Carol V.R. George P'01, Professor of History, with the 2026 Distinguished Faculty Award, recognizing their lasting impact on generations of students through exceptional teaching, mentorship and scholarship.

Presented periodically by the Alumni/ae Association, the Distinguished Faculty Award celebrates retired faculty members whose influence extends far beyond the classroom. Award recipients are nominated by alumni who reflect on the professors who challenged, inspired and transformed their educational experience at Hobart and William Smith. Bloss and George will be recognized during Homecoming and Family Weekend on Friday, Oct. 2, at a ceremony in the Rosensweig Learning Commons of the Warren Hunting Smith Library.

Lowell W. Bloss

A member of the Hobart and William Smith faculty from 1972 until his retirement in 2010, Bloss introduced students to the religions, cultures and philosophies of Asia while helping expand HWS’ global education opportunities.

After earning his bachelor's degree from Colgate University and master's and doctoral degrees in the History of Religions from the University of Chicago, Bloss joined the HWS faculty following a year teaching at Punjabi University in India. During his nearly four decades at Hobart and William Smith, he established and led one of HWS' earliest study abroad programs in Sri Lanka and later helped develop HWS’ study abroad program in Vietnam, giving students immersive international learning experiences long before global education became commonplace.

A respected scholar of Buddhism and South Asian religions, Bloss authored numerous books and articles while also serving the campus community as chair of the Academic Affairs Committee. His commitment to students earned him the Hobart and William Smith Community Service Award in 1975 and the Teaching Excellence Award, presented by the senior class, in 1980.

In nominating Bloss, alumni recall a professor who expanded their understanding of the world while making learning deeply personal.

"Professor Bloss made the love of learning the purpose of a college education," writes Teddy Moskowitz '76.

Others remembered his ability to inspire intellectual curiosity beyond the classroom. Emma E. Pierce Schell '12 credits Bloss with encouraging her to explore courses outside her intended major, advice she says embodied HWS’ philosophy of creating "worlds of experience." Alumni also recall his infectious enthusiasm, engaging storytelling and willingness to mentor students long after class had ended.

Even after retiring, Bloss continued teaching first-year seminars and advising students, remaining an active presence in both the HWS and Geneva communities.

Carol V.R. George P'01

For more than 25 years, George inspired students to think critically about American history, religion and social justice while demonstrating the transformative power of historical inquiry.

George joined the Hobart and William Smith faculty in 1973 after earning her bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from Syracuse University. During her career, she served in numerous leadership roles, including coordinator of the General Education Program: The Third World Experience, co-director of the London Term, coordinator of the Hobart and William Smith–Voorhees College Exchange Program and College Ombudsperson.

An accomplished historian of American religious and social history, George authored the acclaimed books God's Salesman: Norman Vincent Peale and the Power of Positive Thinking and One Mississippi, Two Mississippi: Methodists, Murder, and the Struggle for Racial Justice in Neshoba County. Her scholarship also appeared in numerous books, encyclopedias and historical reference works.

Alumni describe George as a compassionate mentor whose classes challenged students to examine history from new perspectives.

"Carol George truly cared about her students," writes Trustee Roxanne Jackson '81. "Her teaching style encouraged us to think critically, and she was a wonderful listener."

Jackson also reflects on George's leadership of the HWS exchange program with Voorhees College, describing it as a transformative experience that broadened students' perspectives while reinforcing George's commitment to experiential learning.

Ann M. Hermann '76 remembers George as the first female history professor she encountered, someone who demonstrated what was possible for women pursuing careers in academia. Francine J. D'Amico '80 credits George with giving her the confidence to become a writer, recalling that the encouragement she received on a research assignment shaped a journalism career spanning more than three decades.

Together, Bloss and George exemplify the qualities celebrated by the Distinguished Faculty Award: intellectual excellence, unwavering dedication to students and a lasting influence that continues to resonate decades after graduation. Through their teaching, mentorship and commitment to liberal arts education, they shaped the lives and careers of countless alumni, leaving a legacy that continues to define the Hobart and William Smith experience.