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David WagnerAssistant Professor, Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences |
Acceptance Speech
Thank you very much. I'm delighted and honored to receive this award. It really means a lot to me. If you had told me six years ago, when I first joined the faculty, that I would be recognized in this way for my teaching, I think I would have been pretty shocked. You see, back then, when I first took the position as a professor, I felt more than a little bit of trepidation about teaching. I knew it would involve a lot of public speaking, which I've never thought of as one of my strengths. I knew I'd have to stand up in front of a room of students and not waste their time. That's a lot of responsibility. As a shy inexperienced new member of the faculty, I have to say that I thought this teaching stuff was a pretty scary concept.
But, I was fortunate. My students were patient with me—remarkably patient. And my colleagues helped me out. I was very lucky to get the chance to co-teach several classes with some of our more experienced teachers, and I learned a lot from them about how it's done.
And you know what? Along the way, I discovered an amazing thing. Teaching is great! I discovered that teaching, in the classroom, was one of the most rewarding things I'd ever done. I couldn't believe it. It was exhilarating. I was hooked. I have to tell you, it's incredibly inspiring to see the folks in class as they struggle through some pretty difficult concepts and then realize that they can master the material. It's been inspiring to watch the students slowly start to realize just how capable they are and gain confidence in their own abilities. In my experience, Berkeley students have this great big appetite to learn about the world and a serious work ethic, and it has been an absolute privilege to learn with them.
So, I want to say a great big thank you to everyone who has helped me to discover the joy of teaching. To my department and colleagues, thank you for all the support and mentoring you've given me. To all the staff who keep everything running smoothly, thank you very much for your hard work. To my wife, who has put up with all those late nights as I furiously prepared for lecture the next day, thank you. And, most importantly, to all my students, past and present, undergraduate and graduate—I don't know how to thank you properly for having me as your prof, but know this: you are the reason I'm here, as a professor, at Berkeley. You make this the best job in the world. Thank you.