The Distinguished Teaching Awards are given to University faculty who show a mastery of their subject matter, intellectual rigor, lively curiosity, a commitment to research and a passion for teaching. Awardees receive $5,000.

Robin Wright - Zoology

Robin Wright believes she became a better teacher when she realized that the oft repeated "Is this going to be on the test?" was actually a question of, "Why should we care?"

That's why Wright, an associate professor of zoology, strives to put a face on the basic science of cell biology and genetics. For a 400-level class, students might review the symptoms of Angelman Syndrome and learn about Lesley, a 22-year-old who is developmentally disabled, doesn't speak well, is easily excited and flaps her hands, and who smiles and laughs at inappropriate times. In Biology 355, Wright reads from a book by a father whose daughter dies of cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that affects one's ability to breathe.

Robin Wright

As the UW students delve into cell structure and function, they learn that the symptoms of these real people may be the result of a single genetic defect — one of their genes is missing key information or is absent altogether. For a disease like cystic fibrosis, Wright helps the students understand that figuring out the one thing that's happening in the cells could lead to a cure.

Many of the letters nominating Wright included comments about how she strives to engage students at all levels, whether in graduate students seminars or the 150-member introduction-to-biology classes that she asks to teach.

Linda Martin-Morris, who oversees the laboratory component of Biology 100 and works closely with the faculty member leading the lecture side, wrote, "Robin has the invigorating ability to constantly try novel approaches to teaching. Each quarter I can anticipate a barrage of suggestions about how we might alter the curriculum, or the physical set-up, or the classroom dynamics in a way that would be more effective. Not all of Robin's teaching experiments have produced expected results, but most do hit their mark and make significant contributions to her own course and the courses of her colleagues."

Martin-Morris and other letter writers included examples: Wright photographs her students so that, usually within two weeks, she has learned every one of their names, even in the largest classes; she has pioneered the use of electronic media both in lectures and in support of individual students; to engage students with scientists, Wright assigns students to interview faculty about their careers and research; for students who miss answers on her tests, Wright allows them to work out the correct answer and submit it for partial credit.

Along with the innovations she brings to her teaching, Wright also puts in long hours. When she teaches Biology 100, for example, she attends every lab section — that's six different sections that meet for two hours every week. As undergraduate Tom Kang says, "Her passion for her work was so apparent throughout the quarter that I would have been insulting her by not putting forth my best effort."

Finally, Wright's influence extends beyond the biology classroom. She is the guiding force behind the Howard Hughes Undergraduate Education program that brings undergraduates into the research labs of numerous biology faculty. Her own lab is visited by "swarms of undergraduates" every year, according to a researcher on the same floor in Kincaid Hall. In addition, Wright is actively involved in running outreach programs to establish ties between the UW, high schools and community colleges.

Sandra Hines, News & Information

Distinguished Teaching Awards: Gerald Baldasty - Communications Guozhong Cao - Materials Science and Engineering Stanley Chernicoff - Geology Stephen Gloyd - Health Services Bruce Kochis - Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences (Bothell) Julie Nicoletta - Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences (Tacoma)