Congratulations to Mark Wilding, PhD in SLS Student, for being recognized with Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching for a Graduate Assistant!
The Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching for a faculty and a graduate assistant recognizes dedication and demonstrated excellence as teachers of undergraduate students. It was established as a memorial to the late Frances Davis, who taught mathematics at Leeward Community College and UH Mānoa for 19 years.
Mark Wilding is a PhD student in the Department of Second Language Studies, where he has taught a variety of undergraduate courses over the last 5 years. His achievements as a teacher stem from a real passion for language learning, a genuine empathy for his students, and a vocation for helping others learn in a fun and ʻohana-like environment. His department chair shared, “We are not sure if he is fluent in as many as 12, but he certainly spends time practicing and extending his command of more languages than there are professors in the department.” Mark regularly corresponds with other polyglots and takes a new language course every semester here at UHM, which gives him a deeper insight into the many challenges faced by language learners and teachers at different stages. With glowing course feedback every semester, many students consider him a role model teacher.