He was awarded the john kenneth galbraith prize for excellence in teaching and the john bates clark medal ( the most prestigious prize awarded every other year to an economist under the age of 40 ) for his " significant contribution to economic thought and knowledge . " in 1983 , he was named chairman of the economics department and george gund professor of economics and business administration 他获颁一项表扬其优异教学的盖伯瑞斯奖( johnkennethgalbraithprize ) ，并因其对经济学思想及知识的重大贡献而获得克拉克奖章( johnbatesclarkmedal ) ，该奖项为颁授予四十岁以下的年轻经济学家的最高荣誉。一九八三年，斯彭思教授被任命为经济系系主任，以及georgegund经济及工商管理讲座教授。
