The following is a release from the University of Washington Bothell:
Wayne Au, Ph.D. is the recipient UW Bothell’s 2015 Distinguished Teaching Award. Au is an associate professor in the School of Educational Studies.
Au’s achievements in multicultural education directly benefit student learning at UW Bothell. He has been instrumental in calling attention to ways in which the curriculum and co-curriculum, through mindful and sophisticated consideration of diversity, robustly support student experiences inside and outside the classroom. As chair of the Diversity Council, Au’s leadership has earned the respect and admiration of faculty, staff and students.
The nomination by a student was accompanied by support letters from fellow faculty and undergraduate students, including a collective letter from this year’s Academic Transition Program (ATP) class. The year-long academic preparation program is designed to provide assistance geared toward historically disadvantaged, low-income and first generation college students.
“I am deeply touched, and even awe-struck, by the level of support I received for my nomination for the Distinguished Teaching Award,” says Au. “To have my teaching honored, and to have that honor come from my students, colleagues, and university, both humbles me personally and inspires my passion as an educator. I’m truly thankful.”
Since joining the faculty in 2010, Au has consistently proven himself as an outstanding and successful teacher, mentor and colleague who is committed to engaging UW Bothell students at every stage of academic development.
“Dr. Au has integrated classroom teaching and mentorship to an exceptional degree,” says Chancellor Wolf Yeigh. “His work reflects and strengthens UW Bothell’s commitment to providing access to a University of Washington education for students of great promise.”
Au’s academic interests broadly encompass critical education theory and teaching for social justice. More specifically his research focuses on educational equity, high-stakes testing, curriculum theory, educational policy studies and social studies education. He is a nationally recognized scholar on issues of social justice in education.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and his Master in Teaching from The Evergreen State College, Au went on to earn his Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
The UW Bothell Distinguished Teaching Award, created in 1995, is presented each year to a faculty member who has demonstrated sustained excellence in teaching, exemplifying what it means to fulfill the academic mission of the University of Washington Bothell.
