Dr. Danielle King

The Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR) recently announced the names of Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) faculty members who are recipients of 2025-26 Board of Regents Faculty Awards. The awards, presented for excellence in research and teaching, are given to assistant and associate professors in tenure-track or tenured positions, as well as adjunct faculty members, and are awarded at the CSCU university and CT State Community College level, with overall winners recognized in the teaching and research categories at the System level as well.

The Adjunct Faculty Teaching awards are given to recognize part-time faculty who have distinguished themselves as outstanding teachers with a record of accomplishment of increasing student learning and promoting instructional improvements for the programs/departments. Each of the 17 CSCU institutions may elect to nominate a candidate for an adjunct faculty teaching award and from this pool, the Board of Regents might award two Adjunct Faculty Teaching Awards.

Western Connecticut State University Adjunct Professor of History, Philosophy and World Perspectives Dr. Danielle King was named the recipient of the BOR Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award. A long-time WestConn employee with roles in several student-support offices, King, a WestConn alumna herself, has improved not only her own opportunities by obtaining a master’s degree and Ed.D. in Educational Leadership — she has opened doors for countless students who rightfully perceive her as a role model.

In her letter nominating King for the award, Professor of Social Work Dr. Deneen Harris said, “Dr. King exemplifies the highest standards of teaching excellence, student mentorship, pedagogical innovation, and a model for lifelong learning. Dr. King’s impact relative to student learning, the creation of an inclusive learning community, and commitment to continuous evolution designed to prepare students for the future make Dr. King truly deserving of this recognition.”

Dr. Wynn Gadkar-Wilcox, chair of the department in which King teaches, said, “Danielle King has been teaching AAS 100 and occasional other offerings in African American Studies in our department for about 10 years now. Over the course of those 10 years, our sections of AAS 100 nearly always fill, and I have never heard students so universally praise a part-time faculty member as much as they praise Professor King.”

Social Work Department Chair and Professor Dr. Karen McLean added, “Dr. King is well-respected for her ability to build relationships and foster community around campus. Dr. King is not just a staff member at WCSU, she is a proud alumna and shows gratitude for the care and kindness provided to her as a student, and part of her fuel to ‘give back’ and serve as an example. While her primary role is as an office assistant in the campus Cashier’s Office, Dr. King has been a regular as an adjunct teaching faculty member and an advisor to student organizations. Dr. King continues to teach one of the only courses on campus that focuses on the African American experience in America. She has taught this course for over a decade and has become a ‘fan favorite’ with many students and alumni. In her teaching, Dr. King connects with students through her engaging lectures and classroom activities. Her focus, student-centered pedagogy that allows students to see, touch, and feel culture is impressive. Dr. King challenges students to pour into the literature, scholarship, and artifacts of African American culture as a way of literally ‘connecting’ with the experience.”

Kathwari Honors Program Director Dr. Brian Clements further explained: “Dr. King is known across the university not only as a versatile educator, but also as a vital member of the university community. I have worked with her for several years on the Racial Justice Coalition, where she has been an active and essential contributor. I know that she has been active in other committee work as well; which, as you know, is neither required nor expected of adjunct faculty. In 2022, she received the Outstanding Advisor Award from the university. Dr. King achieved all of this while serving the university in appointments to the Bursar’s Office, the Admissions Office, and Pre-Collegiate & Access Programs. Dr. King is committed to the well-being of our students, to bringing world-class educational experiences to them, and to building a community of support, respect, and success across the university.”

Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals, and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.