Outstanding Teacher Award

Kimihiko Nomura

2006-07

Kimihiko Nomura, professor of Japanese in the department of foreign languages and literatures has been chosen as Chico State University’s Outstanding Teacher for 2006-07.

Nomura, who received his doctorate from Northern Arizona University, came to Chico in 1991. He is known for infusing Japanese culture into his teaching. Most recently, he was instrumental in developing a new minor in Japanese that enrolled students for the first time in the fall.

“Dr. Nomura does more than teach Japanese characters and different alphabets in his classroom,” said colleague Char Prieto. “He educates students about Japanese traits, civilization, good manners and the intricate culture behind the language.”

His passion for teaching was one of the characteristics mentioned most often by students and colleagues in his nomination letters. “The entire world is his classroom,” said Sara Cooper, Nomura’s colleague. “Incredibly, Kimi has his textbooks committed to memory, so whether in class or answering a cell phone call while walking across campus, he is able to answer a student’s questions and point her exactly to the textbook page number where more clarification may be found.”

Cooper also noted, “Professor Nomura is always searching for ways to enrich the lives and learning experience of his students, a fact recognized at all levels.” After he arranged the visit of Makoto Yamanaka, Japan’s Consul General to Chico, Dean Sarah Blackstone, Humanities and Fine Arts, thanked him “for having the courage and vision to organize an event that makes a university a rich and wonderful place for students.”

Nomura’s excellence in teaching is demonstrated by the success of his students. More than 100 students who have taken Japanese at Chico State have participated in the Japan Exchange teaching program for the Japanese Ministry of Education.

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