David Pérez II, an associate professor of Higher Education in the School of Education at Syracuse University, has been awarded an Exemplary Teaching and Learning award from educational publishing and services company Pearson Education Inc.
The awards recognize “the brilliance and hard work of faculty members [who] inspire us … honoring those who are doing the most for their students, their schools, and higher education as a whole.” Individually, Pérez II was recognized for demonstrating creativity in personalizing course materials to resonate more deeply with students and using knowledge, strategy, process, and behaviors to create positive student outcomes.”
Pérez II was nominated by doctoral candidate Claudine-Lonjé Williams, who wrote “Dr. Perez II’s research focuses on an anti-deficit lens to view student success, and he exemplifies this in his holistic approach to advising his cohort of master’s students, as well as his coordination of the master’s program.
“While Dr. Perez II is not my official advisor, he is always willing to make himself available to listen sympathetically and offer some words of wisdom to encourage me. The doctoral road can often be a lonely one and I greatly appreciate his eagerness to provide consistent support.
“Dr. Perez II serves on multiple committees on campus to take advantage of playing a pivotal role in steering the university closer to implementing practices and policies that mirror equity, inclusion, and anti-Blackness. His willingness to extend himself and serve as a source of encouragement is not unique to me but to many other students and colleagues. And the meaningful connections he has made with other scholars, he is open to share with his students as further resources when there is shared interests.”