Teacher of the Year for 2000, Dr. Valentina Abordonado was recently named director of the Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) at HPU.

Abordonado is tasked with planning, researching, developing, and conducting workshops, orientation sessions, seminars, and conferences sponsored by the center. Her goal is to improve teaching and learning at HPU through supporting faculty and fostering excellence in teaching. She is responsible for conducting classroom assessments and individual consultations and developing the TLC Web site, resource library and awards program.

In addition to her directorship role at the TLC, Abordonado coordinates HPU’s service learning program and continues to serve as an associate professor of English.

She joined HPU in 1998 as an assistant professor of English. She has held similar positions at the U.S. Air Force Academy and the state Department of Education. She has also served as an executive officer for the U.S. Air Force. In 2000, she was named the recipient of HPU’s Trustees’ Award for Teaching Excellence. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Arizona.