CONGRATULATIONS to Dr. Emiko Taniguchi-Dorios, Associate Professor in Communicology on receiving the 2023 College of Social Sciences Award for Excellence in Teaching! The selection criteria for the Excellence in Teaching Award include: a) subject mastery and scholarship; b) teaching effectiveness and creativity; and c) personal values beneficial to students.
Dr. Taniguchi-Dorios has been teaching at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa since 2016. She teaches courses on interpersonal and relational communication, family communication, communicating social support, theories in communicology and cross-cultural communication, focusing on Japanese and U.S. cultures.
Dr. Taniguchi-Dorios attributes the College of Social Sciences Teaching Award to the students. She explained that it is they who share their feedback with her which allows her to incorporate any necessary and desirable changes or adjustments to the class in order to maximize their learning. Beyond the theoretical and conceptual foundations, Dr. Tanighuchi-Dorios also incorporates hands-on, practical application in her courses, something else that her students really appreciate.
Dr. Taniguchi-Dorios described how much she learns from the students; how they make her think in new ways. As a person born and raised in Japan, she enjoys teaching at UHM as students often have interest in and experience with Japanese culture. This makes connecting with students even more special. She added that she is so grateful to be a professor and gets to work with college students. This period of their lives is so special, pivotal – they have so much potential and are poised to make their own impact in the world. It is so exciting to be a part of their growth. She also noted how much she appreciates the work ethic of our students; even with multiple competing responsibilities (often multiple jobs), they put much effort into their education.
We are so grateful to Dr. Emiko Taniguchi-Dorios, for her many contributions to the students, the Communicology program, the School of Communication and Information, the College of Social Sciences and UHM! Congratulations and Mahalo, Dr. Emiko Taniguchi-Dorios!