2020 Outstanding Lecturer: Sharmin Khan
“I’ve been given tremendous opportunities at San Jose State, and I’ve been fortunate to work with great colleagues who provide me the moral support to do what I do both inside and outside the classroom.”
When Sharmin Khan heard the news that she was getting the 2020 Outstanding Lecturer Award, she said it felt like winning an Oscar.
“It’s a wonderful recognition of my work, time and dedication to students over the past 24 years here,” says Khan. “I’m so pleased that teaching is valued and recognized on this campus.”
As a lecturer in the Department of Linguistics and Language Development since 1996, Khan focuses on the pedagogy of writing, second language development and English as a global language and its impact on home languages.
But her first love is helping students succeed despite the challenges they face.
“I find that many of today’s students are dealing with stresses of schedules, finances and family obligations that make it hard for them to find the time they need for their studies. Yet I know they’re doing their best and are committed to learning.”
Khan meets personally with many students to help them find solutions that will work for their situations. She is proud of the results, which are reflected in the high ratings she regularly receives from student evaluations.
Khan is also dedicated to sharing her experience and knowledge with others. She frequently returns to Bangladesh, where she was raised, to help develop course materials and design instructional programs.
She is an active advocate for her profession and currently represents the College of Humanities and the Arts in the San Jose State University Academic Senate. She is also the lecturer representative of the SJSU Chapter of the California Faculty Association.
“I’ve been given tremendous opportunities at San Jose State, and I’ve been fortunate to work with great colleagues who provide me the moral support to do what I do both inside and outside the classroom,” Khan said. “This award represents what we’re all committed to, which is advancing the teaching profession at our colleges.”
The Outstanding Lecturer Award recognizes a lecturer for excellence in teaching effectiveness and service to the San Jose State campus community.
—David Vossbrink
Congratulations, Sharmin. As far as I am concerned, it is a recognition long overdue. You are truly an unheralded asset to the Department, the College and the University.