RVC-Honors-36th-Faculty-of-the-Year-Recipient.php

RVC Honors 36th Faculty of the Year Recipient

• Category
• 04/24/2025

Rock Valley College is proud to announce Jerry LaBuy, faculty and academic chair of Mass Communication, as the 36^th recipient of the Rock Valley College Faculty of the Year Award.

"You learn what works, and you learn what doesn't, and what doesn't makes you better. The mistakes make you better,” LaBuy said when accepting the honor.

The Faculty of the Year award is presented to a tenured faculty member each year. In the fall, students are invited to nominate members of the faculty. The Faculty of the Year committee chair compiles nominations and presents them to the committee for discussion. The Faculty of the Year is chosen by their peers based on teaching experience, excellence, and service to the college and their community. 

Dr. Julie Hernandez, a member of the Faculty of the Year committee for 2024-2025, detailed the selection process, which included nominations, faculty input, and student feedback. Five faculty members were finalists for consideration, and the winner was chosen through a review of Personal Development Reports (PDRs). The 2025 Faculty of the Year, Jerry LaBuy, was recognized for his exceptional dedication, including providing special accommodations and consistently going the extra mile for students.

Here are some of the comments from the many student nominations received in support of LaBuy:

“He is one of the nicest professors I’ve had as an instructor; he builds incredible opportunities for students and is always supportive.”

 “He really cares about his students! He helped me with some special accommodations I needed in both of his classes that I am taking this semester. I believe that he truly wants all of his students to succeed in their careers, and is taking every step possible to show them how to achieve that!”

 “He is warm, approachable, and consistently goes the extra mile. His sharp wit keeps things lively, and his dedication runs deep. He’s invested in his students’ lives long after they graduate, proving his impact is as lasting as it is meaningful.”

LaBuy began his Golden Eagles journey as a student in 1994. After graduating in 1996, he transferred to Columbia College, where he earned his bachelor's degree. LaBuy’s journey would take him to Los Angeles before returning to the Midwest to earn his Master of Fine Arts from DePaul University. While a student at RVC, Jerry was involved in Starlight Theatre, and it was there that he met his wife, Brooke. Together, they have two children—the oldest is currently a student at RVC.

He joined the Golden Eagle family in fall of 2007 as an adjunct faculty member and became a full-time member of the faculty in 2013.

In addition to his great work as a faculty member, LaBuy is also an integral part of the Mosaic World Film Festival and has served as the director since 2010. The popular Rockford film festival draws entries from around the world. The festival, heading into its 18^th year, is held annually in Rockford each fall.

He closed his acceptance speech by stating, "I don't think any faculty member gets to where they are without being a kind of a culmination of their mentors and their colleagues. So, I just want to say thank you to all my colleagues -- faculty and staff."

Professor Jerry LaBuy has impacted countless lives during his time at RVC and will continue to do so for years to come. Congratulations to him on this well-earned honor.