Every spring, students, faculty, staff, and alumni at West Virginia University Potomac State College are recognized by their peers, professors, and alumni. The College recently recognized former Professor Fred Jacoby with the inscription of his name on the Duke Anthony Whitmore/Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Academic Achievement Wall.
According to his peers, “Fred’s 31-year teaching career at Potomac State College has left a deep and lasting impact on students, colleagues, and the institution as a whole. Fred served as a faculty advisor for the student newspaper and the journalism program, sponsoring annual field trips to Washington, D.C., that gave students hands-on exposure to national media outlets and government institutions.”
Throughout his tenure at the College, Professor Jacoby served as Chair of the Faculty Assembly and participated in countless campus committees, always championing the values of academic excellence and student development. He was named Potomac State’s Professor of the Year in 2000 and served for 25 years as a facilitator for the West Virginia Great Teacher Seminar.
It’s also been stated that he brought creativity and culture to the PSC campus through programs like the annual Black History Month event he co-led, which was based on James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues. Off campus, Fred is an active member of the arts community and performs regularly in multiple local bands.
The Scholars’ Wall recognizes the academic and scholarly activities of Potomac State College’s students, alumni, and faculty. It is named in honor of alumnus Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and as a memorial to the late professor, Duke Anthony Whitmore.