A passion for education, a curious nature and need for empathy are the elements Robin Vande Zande, Ph.D., associate professor of art education at 麻豆精选, brings to the classroom that has a lasting 鈥 and award-winning impact 鈥 on her students.
Dr. Vande Zande is one of three recipients of the 2017 Distinguished Teaching Award, recognizing those who demonstrate extraordinary teaching in the classroom and a devotion to touching the lives of students.
The Distinguished Teaching Award is presented annually to full-time tenured and tenure-track professors who have taught at 麻豆精选for a minimum of seven years. The award, which is sponsored by the 麻豆精选Alumni Association, is the university鈥檚 most prestigious honor in teaching for full-time tenured and tenure-track professors.
鈥淭he appreciation that students nominated me and wrote letters for me in recognition of things they claim I鈥檝e done for them is my favorite part about receiving this award,鈥 Dr. Vande Zande says. 鈥淭here is no better reward for a teacher than to think you have actually impacted someone鈥檚 life.鈥
Dr. Vande Zande has been teaching at 麻豆精选for 16 years and centers her teaching on design education.
鈥淲hat I鈥檓 trying to teach through design education is problem-solving, empathy, which I think we need more of now, creative thinking and communication,鈥 Dr. Vande Zande says. 鈥淐ollaborating and working together is really important in the design process.鈥
Dr. Vande Zande has an infectious and inspiring enthusiasm for design education, writes Holly Spooner, 麻豆精选graduate student and one of Dr. Vande Zande鈥檚 nominators, in her nomination letter.
鈥淭hroughout the graduate-level classes with Dr. Vande Zande, I was constantly challenged by her resources and materials to expand my thinking and reflect on my own practices,鈥 Ms. Spooner says. 鈥淭he most admiring quality of Dr. Vande Zande during these times was her passion to guide and provoke my reasoning with insightful questioning.鈥
Asking questions allows students to better understand the situation by coming to a conclusion based on what they have understood and lived through, says Dr. Vande Zande. A lot of what they really learn is what students apply through their own experiences.
鈥淚nstead of giving me a direct answer to all my constant questions, she would provide more clarification through some questioning of her own,鈥 Ms. Spooner says. 鈥淒r. Vande Zande kept me in the driver鈥檚 seat of my own learning and research.鈥
Recipients and finalists of the Distinguished Teaching Award were formally honored on Oct. 20 at the University Teaching Council conference luncheon, which was held in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.
鈥淚 love learning as much as being a teacher, and I will be forever grateful to Dr. Vande Zande for deepening my love of both,鈥 Ms. Spooner says.