{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363743", "Cong. Smith Greets 'Teacher of the Year'", "2013-12-04", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Cong. Smith Greets 'Teacher of the Year' \r\n   \r\n    \r\n      Monmouth County professor one among only 36 across USA to receive honor \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        Dec 4, 2013\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n      \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Brookdale Community College\u2019s Linda Wang, Professor of Mathematics (center) was recently honored in a Washington DC ceremony in which she and 36 other teachers across the country were selected for the prestigious Professor of the Year award offered by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).\u00a0 The program salutes \u201cthe most outstanding undergraduate instructors in the country\u2014those who excel as teachers and influence the lives and careers of their students.\u201d\u00a0  \r\n\u00a0  \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nominated by her peers and students Professor Wang was selected for both her dedication to the academic success of her students as well as the lasting mark she left on those who she interacted with. In addition to teaching a broad number of math courses at Brookdale\u2014ranging from pre-Algebra to Calculus\u2014Professor Wang also serves as the Faculty Advisor for the Asia Society at Brookdale Community College. Professor Wang is also one of the Founding Members of the Diversity Council at Brookdale which helps to bring awareness of diversity and promote the understanding and respect of individuals\u2019 different cultures and backgrounds.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In her nomination packet, former students noted that Professor Wang made remarkable impacts on their lives. A former student said about Professor Wang\u2019s Math 091 class: \u201cIt was in my math class, where I gained the confidence needed to be a successful student. It was in my math class, where I learned perseverance and never to give up. It was in my math class that I saw the dedication of a teacher, I\u2019ve tried to emulate over the years since I joined the ranks of the teaching profession.\u201d A colleague noted that \u201cLinda exemplifies the community college mission\u2014she is dedicated to teaching excellence. In the early 1990s, Linda took the lead in using links to websites and videos to make her classes more enjoyable\u2026 .\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Following the award ceremony Professor Wang and BCC Math Department Colleague Barbara Tozzi (right) met with Rep. Smith (left) and discussed the importance of higher education\u2014both in the United States and globally\u2014in the function and advancement of civil society. They also discussed ongoing human rights abuses in China including the plight of many jailed dissidents.  \r\n\u00a0  \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith, a senior member of Congress,\u00a0represents large parts of Monmouth, Mercer and Ocean counties including Brookdale Community College\u2019s Main Campus in Lincroft. He is the Dean of the New Jersey Delegation, and is chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee's global human rights subcommittee, and Co-Chairman of the Congressional Executive Commission on China.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363743"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 3.5815630108118057, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}