Curriculum and Instruction Professor Elaine Horwitz has been honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of Illinois. The award is presented to graduates who have attained outstanding success and national or international distinction in their chosen profession, and whose accomplishments reflect admirably on their alma mater. Horwitz holds a master’s degree in French language teaching, and a doctoral degree in second language learning and teaching from the University of Illinois.
Horwitz has conducted groundbreaking research on the emotional experiences of second language learners and has influenced language teaching worldwide. She is a professor in the bilingual/bicultural program and continues to be an influential mentor to countless language teachers and researchers. Horwitz has particular interest in English language learners, anxiety in language teachers, improving second/foreign language teaching, and language teacher education. Under her direction, she has 73 doctoral dissertations completed, as well as numerous master’s theses and two undergraduate honor theses.
