Current Recipient

Erik Byker, Professor

Department of Reading and Elementary Education

Byker, a professor in the Department of Reading and Elementary Education, is an accomplished teacher, mentor and leader known for encouraging and providing opportunities for students to display their scholarship. He uses the Hawaiian phrase, “E Komo Mai,” which means “the door is open, the house is yours” to describe his belief that the classroom is a shared space in which teaching and learning are collaborative.

“The objective of my educational philosophy is to guide undergraduate and graduate students in their professional development by deepening their understanding of what it means to be an engaged citizen and a scholar,” said Byker. “My goal is to guide learners toward a transformation from thinking like a student to becoming a critically engaged, citizen scholar who cares deeply for the world.”

S. Michael Putnam, professor and chair of the Department of Reading and Elementary Education, stated, “Byker has made and continues to make a strong impact across the Cato College of Education through his teaching, research and service. He has been a strong advocate for the development of students’ research skills as well as their growth as global citizens.”