We are excited to announce that Professor David Bradley at Paradise Valley Community College has been awarded the Dale P. Parnell Faculty Distinction Recognition. This recognition, named in honor of former American Association of Community College (AACC) President and CEO Dale P. Parnell, was established to recognize individuals making a difference in the classroom.
Professor Bradley excels in the classroom as an engaging, learning-centered faculty member, as an academic leader developing new and innovative creative arts programs, and as a builder of community partnerships. His approach to teaching and learning centers on: developing contextual learning connecting the creative arts to community; building a relationship-based classroom environment; and integrating substantial connection to the college’s vision of positive social change. He is excellent in balancing both learning-centered and student-centered approaches to learning, and as a testament to his popularity, David’s classes fill to capacity each semester.
Currently, Professor Bradley is collaborating with a psychology faculty colleague to develop and deliver a program entitled Art & Psychology - Connecting Classes and a College in 21st Century Learning. This initiative is funded through an $11,500 grant that Professor Bradley secured.
He is also a campus leader in integrating global perspectives in art based on his extensive travel in Bosnia, China and Mexico. He has organized, as a complement to his classes, exhibitions featuring art and photography from China, drawing significant engagement from the greater Phoenix community. He also sponsors potters each year from Mata Ortiz, Mexico who provide demonstration teaching for his ceramic classes.
In addition to his exemplary approach to teaching and learning, he has many notable contributions to the greater culture of creative arts on campus – all of which engage students as part of the overall learning experience. He has led a number of public art installments on campus connecting local artists with students and is currently coordinating the creation of a six-panel (three-by-six feet in size) mosaic installation on campus highlighting the college’s six core values.
Professor David Bradley certainly exemplifies the values of the Dale P. Parnell Faculty Distinction and we are proud that he is representing PVCC for this recognition.