Last Updated on Monday, 17 August 2009 03:58

Congratulations to Brother Director Dr. Anusak Nidhibhadrabhorn

At De Paul University, Chicago Illinois on June 13th 2009, Saint Gabriel’s leader and friend was been granted an Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters.

The university presented this highly prestigious degree in recognition of Brother Anusak Nidhibhadrabhorn ‘s outstanding contributions and leadership in the field of education.

Definition: a man of letters
This term describes a person, who uses his intelligence and analytical thinking to contribute to academic activities. Certainly his encouragement to our teachers to continue their studies through the pursuit of a Master’s Degree at both De Paul and Assumption Universities is a remarkable achievement; one that has direct benefit to the students at Saint Gabriel’s College.

We believe that Brother Anusak Nidhibhadrabhorn is a most worthy recipient of this very special honor.

HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT

Bro. Anusak Nidhibhadrabhorn
Educator, Visionary, Global Citizen

Bro. Anusak Nidhibhadrabhorn is a visionary educator whose programs in Thailand educate the nation’s future leaders. His innovative curriculum and teaching methods promote international cultural awareness and critical thinking, as well as mastery of academic skills to prepare students for success in a global society. Bro. Anusak also is advisor of education and education/ministry for St. Gabriel’s Foundation of Thailand, which operates 14 schools colleges and a university throughout the country with 4,525 teachers serving more than 55,000 students from kindergarten through university. His goal is to advance democracy and improve economic and social conditions in Thailand through education. A member of the Brothers of St. Gabriel, Bro. Anusak in 2003 became director of St. Gabriel’s College in Bangkok, a G1-12 school for boys. Founded in 1920, the school is considered among the best in Thailand. Its mission is to provide an excellent education and a Christian way of life. A Catholic school, St. Gabriel’s serves a largely Buddhist student body that includes sons of the nation’s most powerful people and as well as children of the working class. It is a model of interfaith respect and honors the religious beliefs and ceremonies of all its students. It counts among its distinguished alumni many of the country’s political, military and business elite, but also has an extensive scholarship program to provide access to low-income students.

However, when Bro. Anusak took over St. Gabriel’s, he shifted the school away from a rigid, teacher-centered curriculum that relied heavily on rote memorization to prepare students for standardized college entrance exams. In six years he transformed the school, already known for its language honors program, into one that teachers almost exclusively in English and emphasizes multicultural understanding. He believes teaching math, science, social studies, computing and literature in English promotes bilingualism and better prepares students to serve in Thai and global society.

To realize his vision Bro. Anusak also strengthened St. Gabriel’s faculty. He brought in teachers in aboard. Working with Assumption University in Thailand, he co-founded a collaborative master’s degree program with DePaul University‘s School for New Learning (SNL) for St. Gabriel’s teachers. The program employs SNL’s experience-based approach to help teachers develop lifelong learning and teaching methods and master English. To date, 76 teachers have earned DePaul graduate degrees.

Bro. Anusak began his education in the Gabrielite system at age 11 and attended several formation houses in Thailand and India in preparation for joining the order. He holds a doctorate in development administration from the school to Public administration at the National Institute of Development Administration, which is widely considered the most prestigious graduate school in Thailand. His dissertation examined mathematical cognitive skills and analytical ability of ninth-grade students in 11 Thai Gabrielite schools.

Bro. Anusak is driven by a strong faith in God, a robust belief in the institutions of Thailand and a fervent desire to better the lives of Thai citizens. His initiatives have helped transform St. Gabriel’s College, its faculty and students into inquisitive self-directed learners. These ideas and methods have invigorated Thai society. He shares DePaul’s strategic goal of preparing student to thrive in a globalized world. He is a model of vision, courage and leadership. His passion for youth and adult education inspires us all.

Bro. Anusak Nidhibhadrabhorn, throughout your life and your career, you have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to God, your country and humanity. Your diligence and scholarship prepared you to make an impact on education and your society. Your insights into the value of experience and cultural competence education have benefited all who are touched by it. You have truly lived the Vincentian in ideal of maximizing human potential, which is at the heart of this university’s mission. It is, therefore, out privilege and honor to confer upon you the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa

Reference
DePaul University‘s 111th Commencement, June thirteenth and fourteenth, 2009, Chicago, Illinois, USA
http://www.depual.edu
http://newsroom.depaul.edu/newsreleases/showNews.aspx?NID=2070