Asian Institute Director Joseph Wong has been selected as a recipient of the 2012–13 Faculty of Arts and Science Outstanding Teaching Awards. A professor of political science and Canada Research Chair in Democratization, Health and Development, Professor Wong was nominated by his students. The award will be presented by Dean Meric Gertler at a reception on April 16.
Professor Wong is well known for his ability to inspire students, both to think critically and to be passionate about their coursework. By weaving stories from his own field experiences into lectures, he brings the material to life and shares up-to-the-minute research developments in the field. Student Zhiying Zhang described the impact Professor Wong has had on her academic and extra-curricular life over the course of her undergraduate career: “From an international student who had trouble expressing herself to a panelist, an editor, and a leader in many different fields who dares to think outrageously and express confidently, my improvements and those of many others reflect that Professor Wong is an outstanding professional in the field of teaching.” According to former student Remi Kanji, “I can honestly say that whenever I meet another student of Professor Wong’s, a nostalgic conversation often ensues about his mentorship and teaching abilities – we’ve never been so happy to do so much homework!” Sarah Eaton, a PhD student under his supervision, appreciates that “in trying to motivate and reassure his doctoral students he draws a lot from his experiences in really honest, practical and often very funny ways.”
Professor Wong teaches a wide range of popular courses, including POL101Y (Democracy, Dictatorship, War, and Peace) and JPA411H (Global Taiwan). His summer abroad course in Shanghai and Beijing (POL376Y: Transforming Global Politics: Comparative and Chinese Perspectives) provides a particularly innovative experiential learning format. Wong designed the course to bring together University of Toronto and Fudan University students in an environment that fosters cross-cultural dialogue.
