The Auburn University Office of International Programs recently inducted Wayde Morse, associate professor in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, into the Global Teaching Academy.
Each year, the organization selects a handful of faculty members who have made exceptional contributions in globalizing Auburn’s curriculum. Morse, who specializes in conservation social sciences, was one of four new members who were recognized at an induction ceremony in March.
“I’m honored to be recognized by the Global Teaching Academy,” Morse said. “The organization’s mission is to encourage and strengthen study abroad; and developing an understanding and awareness of how we all play a part in global conservation issues has been a primary objective in my research and teaching career.”
Morse has studied, researched and taught in locations around the globe, beginning with a semester abroad at Lincoln University in New Zealand. After completing his master’s degree at Colorado State University, he joined the Peace Corps in Panama, where he worked in environmental education and interpretation in that country’s National Parks.
He was then recruited into a National Science Foundation Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship, or IGERT, program offered by the University of Idaho and the Center for Tropical Agriculture Research and Higher Education, in Costa Rica. He spent a year in that country investigating its ambitious conservation programs.
Since arriving at Auburn, Morse has taught classes on watershed services in Costa Rica, nature-based tourism in New Zealand, cultural tourism in Fiji and a pre-freshman study abroad to Belize on sustainable tourism for the Office of International Programs.
“Dr. Morse’s contributions to international study have offered our students valuable opportunities to explore learning experiences far beyond Auburn’s campus,” said Janaki Alavalapati, dean of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. “His recognition by the Global Teaching Academy highlights the excellent contributions of our faculty.”
Jennifer Mason, director of International Program Initiatives, said the Office of International Programs prioritizes recognition of faculty members who, like Morse, are making a difference on campus and around the world.
“Our Global Teaching Academy inductees prepare our students to better understand the context of a globalized world while also serving as an example to colleagues of the many creative and impactful ways internationalization can be brought into the classroom.” Mason said. “I look forward to working with Wayde and the entire new class of the Global Teaching Academy to develop new ideas and programs in the years to come.”
The Office of International Programs created the Global Teaching Academy in 2014 to recognize and celebrate exceptional teaching in an international context. The academy’s members will be inducted into the Phi Beta Delta Honorary Society for International Scholars.
Originally published in the SFWS Summer 2019 Newsletter.
(Written by Jamie Anderson)
