Meet Anu Khanna, a Distinguished Educator

Intercultural/International Studies instructor Anu Khanna has been teaching at De Anza College for nearly a decade, in both the IIS and Language Arts divisions. Describing her own teaching philosophy, upon receiving the Distinguished Educator Award, she says she wants her students "to be excited about learning."

As co-chair of the Curriculum committee for the past three years, and as Curriculum Facilitator prior to that, Khanna has had a huge impact on the quality and diversity of education available to students of all backgrounds at De Anza. "Communication is a part of every aspect of our lives," she says, "and I want my students to see how the course material connects to their experiences and is applicable to their lives."

Khanna, who earned her Ph.D. in Intercultural Communication from Arizona State University, says her mother and grandmother, who were teachers, and her father, a professor, were her role models. The diversity of her students and the commitment of her colleagues contribute to Khanna's high opinion of the educational environment at De Anza.

"I think it is important to build connections and relationships with students and enjoy getting to know them on a personal level," says Khanna. "It's never boring.  Every quarter you have a new class with new faces and new relationships to cultivate."