Fujiwara, Flannery named EMU's outstanding lecturers

Yukari Fujiwara was working in sales "down under" when she realized she wanted to teach Japanese. Clarinda Flannery, first struck by a photo of a poor Appalachian community she saw as a child, thought she wanted to teach. But she didn't pursue her dream until she was in her 30s and, while working on her master's degree, was encouraged by her professors to become a teacher.

Fujiwara

These unexpected revelations helped lead Fujiwara and Flannery to their true calling of teaching languages. Their professional dedication has been noticed and the two Eastern Michigan University lecturers were recently named recipients of the Third Annual Full-Time Lecturers Outstanding Teaching Award.

The award, bestowed by Academic Affairs, requires documentation showing a lecturer's commitment to the education of students and their ability to facilitate student learning from effective teaching.

The two will be honored at a buffet March 9, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at University House. Each will receive a $1,000 honorarium and a plaque. This is the second consecutive year in which two EMU lecturers (award was originally intended for one lecturer) won the award. Rick Rogers, a history and philosophy instructor, earned the honor during its inaugural year.

Flannery

"I couldn't believe it. At the same time, I was so happy," said Fujiwara, when she learned she had won the award. Fujiwara has been a lecturer of Japanese at EMU since 1999. "I submitted my portfolio (for the award) in October and kind of forgot about it."

Flannery was equally as surprised and pleased.

"I'm thrilled. I was so surprised that I actually cried," said Flannery, who has lectured at EMU since 1995 and became a Lecturer II in May 2004. "I felt like I won a Golden Globe or an Academy Award."

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