Dr. Bonnie French, assistant professor Sociology at Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB), is the winner of the Education Prize 2023. She received the prize from Rector Magnificus Annelien Bredenoord during the Opening of the Academic Year 2023-2024 for her accessible and innovative way of teaching. From the jury report: “She creates an educational environment in which everyone feels safe and understood.”
Before joining EUR, the inspired lecturer had an impressive career in education in the US. In 2020, Bonnie started as an assistant professor in the master's programme Social Inequalities.
An inclusive learning environment
Despite the pandemic, she has adapted easily to the Dutch academic system and has consistently shown herself to be a very innovative teacher. Bonnie can connect with people very easily through teaching. She understands the differences in backgrounds and ages in the classroom.
Her research focuses on the meaning of diversity, race and racial inequality. All are important but very sensitive topics. Bonnie is a lecturer who is able to create an inclusive and inspiring learning environment where students feel safe to discuss these sensitive topics.
A teacher who inspires students
The jury was particularly impressed by the student evaluations accompanying the nomination, which highlighted her passion for teaching. The Jury: “Bonnie is characterised by her students as a teacher who inspires, challenges and interacts with students during lectures. She is able to give every student a chance to express their views.”
The jury believes that Bonnie's nomination is a very personal one, which is very evident in the way she is characterised by students and colleagues. Moreover, her approach to interdisciplinary teaching, the way the Erasmian Values are represented in her teaching and the way she incorporates her own views into her teaching, takes her teaching to a higher level.
About the Education Prize
Every year, the Education Prize is awarded to a lecturer at Erasmus University Rotterdam who has stood out in a particular way. For example, by a passionate way of teaching or by using an innovative teaching style. The Education Prize is made possible by the Erasmus Trustfonds. Last year the prize went to dr. Marloes Nederhand, the year before that to dr. Ana Uribe Sandoval.
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