Dr. Virginia David
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2020 Mary L. Dawson Teaching Excellence Award
Dr. Virginia David is a faculty specialist in the Department of Special Education and Literacy Studies and coordinator of Teaching English to Students of Other Languages (TESOL) programs. She received her PhD from Michigan State University in 2015 and has taught English as a foreign and second language for over 14 years.
She has been training English as Second Language (ESL) teachers since 2012 and has taught second language acquisition, teaching methods, assessment, and research methods courses in the ESL graduate certificate and M.A. in TESOL programs at WMU in both in person and online formats. She is Co-PI on a $2.6 million National Professional Development grant that is focused on increasing the number of ESL certified teachers in Southwest Michigan. Her students applaud her organization, content knowledge, commitment to excellence in teaching, and the support she provides them both during and after completion of their programs. She models and implements the methods she teaches her students to use to motivate and engage their own students. She consistently receives high course ratings and frequently receives perfect ratings from her entire class on the overall teaching effectiveness item. In addition to her activities at WMU, Dr. David has been volunteering for ESL of Southwest Michigan, a subsidiary of the Kalamazoo Literacy Council for the past three years. She teaches free adult ESL and TOEFL prep courses.
Quote from nomination
“Dr. David brings a level of quality, attention to detail, and dedication to teaching every teacher in the TESOL programs that is admirable.”
- Dr. Magda Tighelaar, supporting letter
About the award
This award recognizes one individual (Board-appointed faculty member) who demonstrates exceptional creativity, enthusiasm, and passion for teaching at the undergraduate and/or graduate level(s).
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About the College of Education and Human Development
As the cornerstone of Western Michigan University, the College of Education and Human Development continues to build upon its rich tradition of excellence by facilitating the preparation and growth of pre K-12 teachers, human service professionals, innovative designers, and health and wellness specialists. Learn more about the programs offered from the College of Education and Human Development.