Stevens Honored by Spanish Conference on Language Teaching

June 4, 2024

Dr. Erika Stevens Honored
Dr. Rob Pratt, dean of the Division of Humanities, left, and Dr. Erika Stevens, professor of Spanish, with awards she received from SCOLT.

Spnanish Professor Honored for Teaching Excellence

A Walters State Community College professor has received top honors from the Southern Conference on Language Teaching (SCOLT) for 2024.
 
Dr. Erika Stevens, professor of Spanish, was named the 2024 Post-Secondary Educator of Excellence. The award recognizes instructors at the college level who have demonstrated excellence in language teaching and have served as advocates for foreign language instruction at the local, state and national levels. Stevens was chosen based on her teaching portfolio and her letters of reference. 

“I am humbled and honored to receive this award, with its emphasis on teaching,” said Stevens. “Teaching is my passion. My goal to expand the knowledge, skills and talents of students as they pursue their studies in Spanish.”

Stevens developed Walters State’s academic certificate in Spanish, the first one offered by a Tennessee Community College. She has worked to add needed classes for those working in education, public safety and healthcare.

“The certificate provided a way for students working on degrees in other areas to pursue Spanish in addition to their major. It also opened the door for many others who want to learn the language to better serve our community,” Stevens said. 

Early this year, Stevens was a finalist in the Tennessee Board of Regents’ Statewide Outstanding Achievement Award Faculty Member of the Year category.