Chuang joins Wendy L. Britt, professor of nursing; Karen Hindhede, professor of English; Robert Suor, professor of welding; and Clark Vangilder, professor of physics as the 2012 recipients.
“I’m very honored to be receiving this award,” Chuang said. “I feel that it is my job to help students succeed. It is very gratifying to see students succeed and I do my best to help them.”
Winners are chosen based upon their willingness to further their own knowledge; engage and support students and student knowledge; use a variety of new concepts and teaching methods; and participate in the college’s community activities. Recipients must meet the following criteria:
- Demonstrate excellence in the teaching/learning process
- Be actively involved in student learning (inside and outside the classroom)
- Demonstrate use of a variety of teaching methods
- Actively and successfully integrate technology in the classroom
- Actively demonstrate innovation, which facilitates student learning
- Incorporate into the classroom the concept that students have different learning styles
- Be active in institutional, campus and division activities
Chuang arrived at CAC seven years ago already possessing 15 years of teaching experience. Prior to joining the college, he served New Mexico State University Carlsbad as an assistant professor of mathematics, as well as its math area coordinator, from 2000-05.
Before then, Chuang was a full-time mathematics instructor at Fullerton College (Calif.) from 1990-99 and instructed math courses on an adjunct basis at two other California institutions.
At Central Arizona College, Chuang teaches developmental and lower-division math courses. His experience over the years has brought to CAC new instructional methods that many of his students have come to appreciate.
“He would tell us to solve problems using the least amount of ink,” Gilfred Curley, one of Chuang’s students, said. “Rather than write out every step, he assumed that [the class] already knew how to get from step to step without having to write out the obvious.”
In addition to his duties as an instructor, Chuang coordinates math course schedules, mentors adjunct faculty, provides student advising, and serves on various departmental and institutional committees, including the college’s General Education Outcome Committee.
Chuang has worked closely with Sylvia Gibson, CAC’s director of accreditation and quality programs, to improve the quality of instruction at the college and to ensure accountability.
He is a tireless member of the college’s faculty, has consistently volunteered to teach classes beginning at 7:30 a.m. as well as evening classes, and has served TRiO Student Support Services as a mentor.
Chuang received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from California State University, San Bernardino before earning a master’s degree in math from the Cal State Fullerton. He is a current member of the Arizona Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges and is a Higher Learning Commission/AQIP System Appraisal panelist.
