Cypress College Nominates Political Science Professor for 2023 Teacher of the Year Award
For Immediate Release
May 2, 2022
Contact: Marc Posner
(714) 484-7006
(Cypress, Calif.) – Cypress College announces the nomination of Political Science Professor Gloria Badal for the 2023 Orange County Teacher of the Year award. Bestowed by the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE), the annual award recognizes outstanding K-12 and community college educators in Orange County. Candidates will be honored at a recognition banquet hosted by SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union at the Disneyland Hotel on October 28.
A 19-year veteran educator, Badal has been a professor of political science at Cypress College since 2007. She has also served as a lecturer at California State University, Fullerton, and adjunct instructor at Santiago Canyon College, Saddleback College, Irvine Valley College, and Riverside Community College.
From the first political science class she took as an undergraduate at California State University, Fullerton, Badal recalls falling in love with political science and realizing she wanted to be like the professors who made ideas come alive for her.
“My inspiration were professors like Raphe Sonenshein, Bruce Wright, Jesse Owens Smith, and Carl Jackson. Today, my motivation is still in those early memories of the inspiration I gained from my professors. If I am that inspiration to my students, my goal has been achieved.”
Badal said receiving the nomination to represent Cypress College as Teacher of the Year is the highest honor of her career.
“This nomination means that my students know how much I love teaching them and how important their success—not only in my class, but in life—is to me,” said Badal.
In addition to her role as professor, Badal is the political science department coordinator, the faculty advisor for the political science club, a faculty mentor for the Legacy Program, and the political action committee chair of United Faculty.
According to Dr. Lisa Gaetje, dean of social sciences at Cypress College, Badal is a beloved professor who creates a climate where students are allowed to respectfully disagree, become advanced critical thinkers, and enhance their commitment to social and political engagement and global citizenship.
“Gloria sees the relevance of her course content to the advancement of educational trajectories, but also to engaged participation in society as a whole,” said Gaetje. “She is thoughtful about the equitable experiences of students and is keenly aware of how a college experience and student connectedness to their courses and instructors can change lives.”
About Cypress College:
Cypress College offers students a pathway to their future in an environment in which employees commit to joining students on their educational journey. The college’s half-million-plus alumni include actors, athletes, doctors, executives, mechanics, nurses, and teachers. For some, Cypress College is the ticket into their university of choice, and for others, it provides essential training for a prosperous career. Just one Cypress College class is often all it takes to provide cutting- edge skills that lead to a promotion or a new job.
Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College provides a pathway for each of our students, offering 56 university-transfer majors, 174 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 98 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Eligible first-time students qualify for free tuition through Cypress College’s Charger Experience promise program. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.
Cypress College is one of three campuses in the North Orange County Community College District and a member of the 116-campus California Community College system. The college primarily serves the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Garden Grove, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, and Stanton.
Located at 9200 Valley View Street in Cypress, the college is easily accessible from several Southern California freeways, including the 5, 91, 605, 22, and 405. The campus is just a stone’s-throw from Downtown Disney and Knott’s Berry Farm.
In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Cypress College’s instruction and services are now offered both in person on campus and in an online/remote format. Students can access support services online at cypresscollege.edu/coronavirus.
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