Professor Kristin Davin Earns Top National Honor in Foreign Language Education
For the second time in the last four years, a UNC Charlotte professor has earned one of the nation’s top honors in foreign language education. Kristin Davin, an associate professor in the Cato College of Education, has been named the recipient of the Anthony Papalia Award for Excellence in Teacher Education.
The award is bestowed upon just one world language teacher educator per year by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). It was established in 1987 to recognize a world language educator who has demonstrated excellence in the preparation and continuing education of teachers for the profession.
Davin is an associate professor in the Department of Middle, Secondary and K-12 Education, and director of the minor, graduate certificate and Master of Arts in Foreign Language Education programs.
Watch Professor Davin accept the award
Watch Professor Davin accept the award
“Dr. Kristin Davin represents the finest of world language educators in our field. She is passionate about her work on behalf of students, teachers, and administrators in providing opportunities for high-quality language study in K-16. Her accomplishments to date are helping shape the direction of our field as we strive to use research to inform our practice and advocate for education policy reform that will benefit future generations,” said Mary Lynne Redmond, professor emerita of education at Wake Forest University.
Danielle Imhoff is one of the educators Davin has mentored. She entered the field as a second-career teacher and had just two years of experience when she met Davin, who worked with Imhoff on strategies to engage students.
“I felt uniquely supported by and grateful for Dr. Davin with all of her experience and knowledge. I know that I am only one example of a student that she has helped, but there are obviously so many more. Because of her intentional leadership, so many students – from kindergarten to seniors in high school – have learned more because she helped their teachers to flourish,” Imhoff said.
Davin’s research is closely connected to her teaching and informs foreign language teacher preparation and foreign language programs. She has published one book, eight book chapters and 34 peer-reviewed journal articles, 15 of which were written with students.
Davin teaches foreign language methodology, assessment, and lab courses each semester. During her three years at UNC Charlotte, her average teacher effectiveness score is 4.7 out of 5.0 and her average course quality score is 4.8 out of 5.0.
“The most impactful and rewarding aspect of the work is shaping the lives of the next generation of teachers, who in turn shape the lives of so many students,” Davin said in accepting the award.