海角视频

Assistant professor of communication and department chair Michelle Rai, M.S., was named Educator of the Year 2016 during the colloquy program on April 28. Faculty, staff, students, and administration all celebrated with Rai as she was recognized for this prestigious award for the first time. Rai has been a professor in the department of communication for the past ten years and chair for the past eight.

鈥淔aculty and students alike are pleased with the choice of Michelle, whose hard work and collegiality have allowed the Communication department to grow into one of the largest on campus in recent years,鈥� says Dr. Nancy Lecourt, academic dean and vice president for academic administration.

This distinction, determined solely upon student vote, recognizes an outstanding educator each year. Rai was praised by students for her ability to connect on personal levels and willingness to make time for students. Talissa Romero, junior health communication major, described Rai鈥檚 dedication to her students as, 鈥渁 phone call or text away, responding to text messages faster than you can blink your eyes.鈥�

An alumnus of PUC, Rai graduated in 1997 with a degree in both communication and journalism. A home-grown member of the college鈥檚 faculty, Rai started her career at PUC as an enrollment counselor in the Enrollment Services office. Five years later, she became the college鈥檚 director of public relations until she began teaching in 2006.

2015 honoree professor Lloyd Best opened the colloquy program with his 鈥淩eflections on a Life of Teaching.鈥� During his speech, he attributed his teaching successes to past professors in his education, particularly the ones who challenged him. Best humbly thanked the student body for recognizing him last year and closed by saying, 鈥淚 am just so pleased I鈥檝e had the privilege and opportunity to be a teacher to many of you students for so many years.鈥�

Best then announced Rai as Educator of the Year 2016, 鈥榢nighting鈥� her with a lightsaber in true Jedi fashion.

Doug Wilson, director of student activities, began the traditional comedic 鈥渢oast and roast鈥� by stumbling through a poem read by him in Hawaiian, the native language of Hawaii, where Michelle is from. He then presented 鈥淭he Many Faces of Michelle鈥� with some never-before-seen photographs from Rai鈥檚 past and present, highlighting her love of teaching, tennis, volleyball, and family.聽Milbert Mariano, chair of the department of visual arts, shared his experiences working under Rai鈥檚 leadership聽as the college鈥檚 public relations director.

Tammy McGuire, fellow professor of communication, concluded the program touching on Rai鈥檚 鈥渕agical鈥� ability to build relationships and mentor with compassion and without judgement. 鈥淭hat magic that [Rai] has, is a gift to PUC,鈥� McGuire said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 no surprise whatsoever, that [her] students love [her] so much.鈥�

To read more about past Educator of the Year recognitions, visit the News & Events archives at puc.edu/news/archives.