Yanjie Li, Ph.D., has received the Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence. Graduate students from a range of departments and programs were selected for their exceptional contributions in the classroom. Recipients were selected through a departmental nomination process that required support and input from multiple members involved in the teaching mission. Among the many achievements and approaches nominators highlighted were inclusive pedagogy and commitment to student success; the development of a classroom environment that welcomes diverse opinions, learning styles, and life experiences; lively and enthusiastic teaching that kept students engaged with course content and conversations; creativity in course and assignment design; and collaboration with faculty and other graduate students throughout the semester. Awardees each receive a $1,500 prize and a certificate.
Li, a student in Education and Applied Linguistics, successfully defended her dissertation in February 2023, titled "L2 Readers' Strategy use with Academic Texts: The Role of Working Memory, Interest, and Strategic Adjunct Questions."