Ms. Ruby M. Blair, Benedict College

Now in her fourth decade as a devoted member of the Benedict College faculty, Ms. Ruby M. Blair is Benedict’s 2020 Excellence in Teaching award recipient. She is an instructor of English and has served in multiple roles. Ms. Blair is best known for her teaching and high rates of student success in her freshman composition courses.

Ms. Blair has completed advanced studies at Clemson University, College of Charleston, and New York University and is currently enrolled in further study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Benedict College and a Master of Education from the University of South Carolina.

With areas of expertise in literacy and professional editing, Ms. Blair recently edited two books, Succeeding Against the Odds: The Life and Times of Reverend Isaiah Odom and Rhythmic African Spirituality in Sports, Dance, Music, and Arts. She has also edited a plethora of master’s theses and dissertations over the years.

Ms. Blair is often recognized as quiet in manner and strong in teaching. Students often request her courses based on what they have heard from other students about her exceptionally effective and caring teaching approaches. A recent graduate wrote to President Artis about Ms. Blair’s “selfless support and contributions to Benedict College and students” and recalled that “…there’s always a line of students outside her office. From counseling students to not give up on their studies, to academics, to graduate school applications, and to career path shaping, she stays on-campus beyond work hours to continuously mold students. She is a gem. She is #TheBESTofBC.”