A CU Denver educator who helps students connect classroom learning to the real world just received one of the Western region’s highest recognitions for pedagogical excellence.
Soumia Bardhan, associate professor of Communication in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) at the University of Colorado Denver, has been awarded the Western States Communication Association (WSCA) Distinguished Teaching Award. The award was presented on March 1 at the WSCA Awards Luncheon during the association’s annual conference in San Diego.
Recognizing Teaching That Connects Learning to the World
The WSCA Distinguished Teaching Award honors faculty whose teaching shows sustained excellence and helps students link what they learn to broader social, cultural, and global contexts. Recipients are selected from across the Western United States and are recognized for commitment to teaching innovation, inclusive learning, and long-term student impact.
In other words, it celebrates faculty who don’t just teach content, but create learning experiences that prepare students to think critically, communicate clearly, and engage with the communities and systems shaping their lives.
A Real-World, Inclusive Approach to Communication Education
Bardhan was nominated by Lisa Keränen, associate dean for Academic and Strategic Planning for CLAS. In her nomination letter, Keränen described Bardhan as “a deeply reflective and innovative educator whose teaching consistently inspires students, elevates colleagues, and engages global dynamics with analytical depth.”
In Bardhan’s courses, students explore how local experiences, in classrooms, communities, and institutions, are shaped by global forces, power relations, and the histories behind the stories we tell. Students are encouraged to question dominant narratives, reflect on culture and positionality, and examine communication within interconnected local-global dynamics.
Bardhan also brings an intersectional, inclusive approach to teaching. She designs learning environments that recognize multiple ways of learning, participating, and demonstrating knowledge. Reflection matters alongside dialogue, and students have more than one pathway to engage meaningfully.
A Track Record of Excellence Across Courses and Modalities
Bardhan has taught more than 20 courses across programs and learning formats. Her courses are widely recognized for intellectual rigor, clarity, creativity, and student-centered design.
Peer reviewers have highlighted the accessibility of her course structures and the originality of her assignments. Students consistently describe her as supportive and responsive, and credit her with helping them grow intellectually in ways that last beyond the semester.
“I am honored to receive this recognition,” Bardhan said. “Teaching is at the heart of my work as an educator, and I am grateful for the students, colleagues, and mentors whose insight and engagement inspire my pedagogical commitments.”
“Teaching is at the heart of my work as an educator, and I am grateful for the students, colleagues, and mentors whose insight and engagement inspire my pedagogical commitments.”
Building Momentum in Teaching Innovation at CU Denver
This award adds to Bardhan’s growing record of leadership in teaching and learning, including the 2025 CLAS Teaching Excellence Award. She has also contributed to faculty development, interdisciplinary program building, global learning initiatives, and AI-focused curriculum innovation.
At CU Denver, teaching is about more than delivering lectures. It’s about opening doors, creating belonging, and helping students build skills they can use in their careers and communities. Bardhan’s recognition reflects that commitment and the real impact CLAS faculty make every day.