This week's People Magazine names William Alfred, Kenan Professor of English, as one of twelve "great" professors in American colleges.

Louis Slovinsky, manager of press relations for Time, Inc., which publishes People Magazine, said yesterday the educators were chosen solely on the basis of the quality of their teaching and their ability to motivate students.

Another of the professors named in the article is Peter Stansky, Field Professor of History at Stanford, who in 1968 was denied tenure by Harvard's History Department.

Alfred, who currently teaches three undergraduate English courses, yesterday downplayed the distinction, saying he had at first asked the magazine not to include him in the article. He said he thought the recognition was probably due to his authorship of the popular play Hogan's Goat.

Paul Cantor, assistant professor of English literature and assistant head tutor, said yesterday that he felt Alfred deserved the honor "for his accessibility to students and willingness to do individual work with them."