Dr Brendon Dunphy
Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching
Senior Lecturer – School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland
At the core of Brendon’s teaching is a drive to create whakawhanaungatanga among his learners and build an inclusive learning community. The relationships he develops with learners allow him to engage in active and novel learning techniques, such as his choreographed dance to teach cellular biology. These methods have transformed what can be considered a dry, fact-based subject into one where learners feel truly engaged and partnered in their education. Brendon’s meaningful integration of Te Ao Māori into his teaching is heartfelt and treasured by students that pass through his class.
Brendon has an unwavering commitment to equity in education. His role as Tuākana programme academic coordinator for his department has allowed him to partner with learners to create, in their words. “an inclusive Māori/PI learning community purposed to combat inequities experienced by our students” that has a real focus on empowerment and identity.
One learner describes how "as a first-generation Pacific Island (PI) university graduate, navigating the academic scene has been trying. However, Brendon has been integral in enabling my ability to make well-informed decisions.”