Top notch: the 2010 teachers of the year

From jazz to biology, the seven recipients of the Distinguished Teaching Award and one recipient of the Marsha L. Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award cover the spectrum of subject matter. They also share the ability to inspire students to incredible heights. You can find profiles of the award winners at http://www.washington.edu/facultystaff/awards/.

From left in photo:

Scott Freeman, ’90 Lecturer, Biology
He’s known as an engaging teacher and for his ability to learn the names of all 700 students who take his introductory biology class.

Joy Williamson-Lott
Associate Professor, Educational Leadership and Policies Studies
“People love being inspired and challenged to learn by someone who authentically cares who they are and what they think.”—Colleague

Diane Gillespie
Professor, Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, UW Bothell
“I have Professor Gillespie to thank for recognizing an ability in me that I did not see in myself.”—Student

Scott A. Hauck, ’92, ’95
Professor, Electrical Engineering
Begins each class with a “question of the day” to jump-start students’ minds, even if the question is not matched to a lecture.

Cuong Vu
Assistant Professor, Jazz Studies
“As a teacher and mentor to students, he is as much the virtuoso as when he is playing the trumpet.”—School of Music Director

Mark Pendras, ’94
Assistant Professor, Urban Studies, UW Tacoma
“He puts in more time … extracting excellence than anyone I know.” —Colleague

Victoria Lawson
Professor, Geography
A recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1996, she was honored with this year’s Marsha L. Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award.

Anu Taranath
Senior Lecturer, English
Year after year, this petite teacher routinely earns the highest ratings in the UW’s English Department.