Teaching Award Recipient, 2015-16

Dr. Julia Jordan-Zachery

Public and Community Service Studies and Program Director for Black Studies

“My primary goal as a teacher is to encourage students to become critical consumers of knowledge. To this end, I ask students to engage in reasoned inquiry and self-reflection regarding the various values, beliefs, attitudes, and habits that define the nature and quality of life for minoritized individuals. In an attempt to promote and foster such thinking, I devote class time to discussing the theoretical as well as the real world implications of various arguments and the way they engage with each other along with previously discussed issues.

The key to learning is an environment that is a safe and respectful. In many of my classes, students find themselves introduced to ways of thinking that at times challenges their world-view. Consequently, it is important for me to set the stage by asking them how as a society we produce knowledge about minoritized and often subordinated populations. Once we have had a conversation on the production of knowledge, I find that as a collective we can then engage in critical thinking, developing communication skills, and ultimately engage in active learning.”

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Jordan-Zachery on this prestigious honor!