Irene Rizkallah Gordon, an instructor of English as a Second Language (ESL) at Hawai‘i Pacific University, was awarded the University’s 2001 Trustees’ Award for Excellence in Teaching. The announcement was made at HPU’s spring commencement ceremony in May.

This annual award is given to a faculty member, chosen by students and fellow faculty, who best exemplifies the ideals of distinguished teaching.

“Irene’s own experience learning English as a second language gives her an intimate understanding of the challenges her students face.

She connects well with her students,” said Mary Hammond, associate dean and director of the English Foundations Program at HPU. “Sometimes,” Hammond continued, “the middle eastern mother in her comes out when she brings food for her students to sample, or invites them to her home on a special holiday.”

Born in Cairo, Egypt, Gordon, who received a bachelor’s degree from Muhlenberg College and a master’s degree from Wayne State University, has been teaching at HPU for the last eight years. She has taught a wide range of courses in the English Foundations and the TESL Programs.

She developed a course “Translation in Second Language Acquisition” that is offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

An active member of the HPU community, Gordon has served as faculty advisor to the Middle Eastern and Russian Clubs and has organized numerous social events for both the EFP and the TESL Programs. She is also an active member of the Honolulu Community Media Council, a supporter of the Honolulu Symphony, the Academy of Art, and other cultural organizations.