Honor an Educator

The Honor an Educator program was created in 2006 with two primary goals – to recognize educators who have made a difference in the lives of others, and to provide scholarships for current College of Education students.  Faculty, alumni, and friends of the College are invited to submit names of honorees with a brief description of why they are being honored, along with a $100 donation to the scholarship fund in their honoree's name.

Dr. Iraj B Nejad
Professor, Chemestry Department, Mt. San Antonio College

Iraj has been the PI of several successful NSF proposals receiving support from the CCLI program, Undergraduate Research Center program, as well as the S-STEM Scholarship Program. Funds from these programs have been used to acquire an NMR spectrometer that is used extensively by students and also computational chemistry software. He has established early undergraduate research partnerships with neighboring four-year institutions including UC Irvine, Harvey Mudd College and CSUF. Over 30 Mt. SAC students have done 8-10 week summer long research programs at these partner institutions. He is Mt. SAC lead on an NSF STEP Grant with CSUF to improve retention and success of STEM transfers.

Robert Koch
Dean, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Dr. Jo Wen Wu
Professor, Department of Biology, Fullerton College

Dr. Wu has been productively engaged in numerous and varied educational activities that have contributed greatly to student success. She has served as a Grant Project Director for the Biotechnology Workforce Innovative Partnership, CA Community Colleges. She is a faculty mentor for student research experiences (NSF Research Experiences for Teachers and Students, 2010; Science Weekend Investigations and Field Trips Program, 2010-present; HHMI Weekend Research Program at CSUF, 2009). She also serves as a faculty advisor and project supervisor (Science Club, 2000-present, Guiding and Preparing Science Students, 2008-present, Science tutors, 2008-present, Science Saturday Programs, 2009-present; UCI Bridges program, 2006-present). Finally, Dr. Wu is a member of several advisory boards (OC Biotech Education, 2010-present; CSUF-HHMI Research Scholars, 2010-present; Pasadena City College Biotechnology Advisory Board, 2007-2009; FC Transfer Advisory Committee, 2005-present; FC Distance Education Advisory Committee, 2008-2009; CSUF Biotechnology/Biopharmaceutical Advisory Board, 2008).

Robert Koch
Dean, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Dr. Kathleen Takahashi
Biology Department, Santa Ana College

Dr. Kathleen Takahashi is a professor of life sciences at Santa Ana College. She has been a partner in the NSF TEST:UP grant and is the primary driver in successful implementation of supplemental instruction in biology at Santa Ana college. She has championed SI using the University of Missouri-Kansas City model and helped expand it to other sciences and mathematics at her campus.

Robert Koch
Dean, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

For more information contact Yvonne Moar at: ymoar@fullerton.edu or 657-278-3021.