Professor Taylor wins Distinguished Teaching Award

Each year a few University of Michigan-Dearborn faculty are recognized for their exceptional contributions in the areas of teaching, research and service. One of this year’s recipients is Dr. Julie Anne Taylor, SOE associate professor, who has been selected to receive the Distinguished Teaching Award (in the tenured faculty category). The award will be presented at the UM-Dearborn Honor Scholars and Faculty Awards Dinner on March 26.

The Distinguished Teaching Award is given to faculty members whose teaching record illustrates effectiveness in the classroom and the revitalization of courses and curriculum; interaction with students outside the classroom, as mentor, advisor, or group participant; professional growth as a teacher; and, commitment to undergraduate or graduate education.

Dr. Taylor teaches multicultural education courses and specialized offerings in the area of social studies education. Her contributions to the School of Education and University community include creating several new course offerings, leading the work of SOE and CASL faculty to obtain approval from the Michigan Department of Education for approved teacher preparation programs in several distinct academic areas, and fostering students’ engagement with community in numerous locations, including the Douglass Academy for Young Men, the Detroit Institute of Art, the Holocaust Memorial in Oakland County, and the Arab-American Museum in Dearborn. Among the distinctive features of her teaching are the integration of her own research and the extensive use of community resources to inform and enrich her classes. Also, she has been an innovator in her teaching, leading the way in the implementation of the M-portfolio in her classes, and being the first faculty member on campus to offer an online course in the area of social studies education.

The faculty member who wrote her nomination letter noted that her students regularly state that Dr. Taylor’s enthusiasm is contagious, that each of her classes is "an event," and that her concern for her students is energizing. Her colleagues in the School of Education agree and have long recognized her as a gifted teacher.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Julie Ann Taylor on winning this prestigious campus award, which signifies well-deserved recognition for her exceptional teaching and excellent pedagogical contributions to the school and university. Let's also thank her for all she does on behalf of the students with whom she comes in contact!