Berry College Assistant Professor of Spanish Julia Barnes is the winner of Questia’s first-ever “Most Valuable Professor Competition.”

Student submissions were narrowed down to a group of finalists before a winner was voted on by the public through Questia’s Facebook page. Questia, part of Cengage Learning, is an online library that provides instant access to the world's largest online collection of books, magazines, journal and newspaper articles with a focus in the humanities and social sciences.

Barnes, who has taught at Berry since 2010, wins a $2,500 scholarship to be established in her name. She will be an integral part determining the criteria and recipients for the scholarship that will be awarded to three students. She credits her win to her students.

“I am so honored that my students thought enough of me to vote for me! I’m blown away by their enthusiasm, just as I am continually impressed by the considerateness of students at Berry,” Barnes said.

Berry senior Lara Thomson said she’s learned so much from Barnes in a small amount of time.

“I’ve learned more Spanish in two semesters than I’ve learned in seven years of middle and high school. I am really glad she knows how much her students appreciate her and I hope she feels appreciated,” Thomson said.

Berry sophomore Cari Voutila said Barnes sets the bar high.

“She is incredibly challenging yet incredibly caring at the same time and I’ve encountered few professors that are both of those things at once. I can’t think of another professor who would deserve it more,” Voutila said.

Barnes has a doctorate in romance languages, with a concentration in Spanish literatures from the University of Georgia, a master of arts in Spanish from University of North Carolina, a master of arts in religion from Yale University and a bachelor of arts in Spanish from Davidson College.

Written by Student Public Relations Assistant Hayden Sloan.

Click here to read additional press releases on RN-T.com.