Mike Rose M.A. ’70, Ph.D ’81

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When people ask Mike Rose whether he still enjoys teaching after 37 years, he doesn’t hesitate to answer. “I love this work as much now as I did when I was 24,” said the education professor.

Rose has taught illiterate adults, Vietnam veterans, under-prepared college students and the brightest graduate students. All have benefited from the vitality and careful thought he brings to the planning, development and teaching of courses and curricula.

“His unflagging energy to help individuals and build programs has put him at the center of key UCLA curricular innovations,” said Diane Durkin, a faculty member and chair of the committee that nominated him for the Distinguished Teaching Award.

The Academic Advancement Program, the Freshman Summer Program, the UCLA Writing Programs and a summer program that UCLA runs for children of migrant workers all bear his imprint, as do a wide range of graduate courses.

His latest teaching prize honors his outstanding work with students at the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies. While Rose has sent thousands of students into the world to build careers of their own, they never leave his life for good. On prominent display in his office is a faded photo of his first batch of students, a kindergarten class from El Monte.

— Cynthia Lee, UCLA Today