Awards

Lieber Memorial Associate Instructor Award - 1968

About Michael O'Donnell

Michael O’Donnell was raised in Pennsylvania. He joined the Peace Corps, serving for two years in Morocco before returning to finish college. This experience set him on course for graduate work in French at Indiana University Bloomington, being the first first-year teacher to win the Lieber Memorial Associate Instructor Award in his role as a graduate assistant. O’Donell is a professor of foreign languages at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. His own world travels since his time in the Peace Corps have taken Professor O’Donell to every continent, to more than 60 countries, sometimes in conjunction with service projects. Considered one of the best professors in the entire institution, he has served for 50 years at University of Virginia’s College at Wise, helping one student at a time.