Jonathan Grant, a history professor at Florida State University, has been named the 2008 Florida Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Grant was officially recognized for the state honor Thursday during a Washington, D.C., program. He was unable to attend the festivities. Friday, however, he shared his response in getting the award.

“Every college in the state was allowed to submit three names. FSU submitted three names,” he said.

Grant said he was a little shocked when he heard he won.

“It was a pleasant surprise,” he said.

Grant’s teaching areas include the histories of Russia, Central Asia, The Ottoman Empire, the Balkans and World War I.

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