Born to teach

A teacher. A motivational speaker. A therapist. In high school, these were the careers Dr. Bryan White was most interested in exploring. Today, as a teaching professor at the University of Washington Bothell’s School of STEM, he draws from all three of these passions. 

“I am so lucky in that I kind of get to use all three hats here at UW Bothell,” White said. “I love being in a position where I can just help a lot of people who are dealing with the stressful environment of college to manage that and excel and be their authentic self.” 

He teaches biology and neuroscience, but his teaching legacy extends well beyond science. The impact of his work, he said, boils down to one simple philosophy: “Students will remember how you make them feel more than the science they learned.” 

Beloved by faculty and students alike, White’s approach to teaching hasn’t gone unrecognized. Recently, he was named the recipient of UW Bothell’s 2025 Distinguished Teaching Award. The award is based on several criteria, including nomination letters from both students and faculty. 

In one such letter, a student noted that White was “born to teach.” 

Embracing authenticity 

When he first started college, White said he was on a “roller coaster” to medical school after receiving positive reinforcement from his family to pursue that path. His passion for teaching still shone through visits to elementary and middle schools where he would bring organs and talk about science. A couple years in, he left the program to become a high school biology teacher. 

He said it was the best decision he ever made. Despite lifelong struggles with anxiety and depression, White found he needed “a lot less therapy” once he embraced his authentic self and pursued a career in education. 

When White came to UW Bothell in 2011, he was one of only two faculty members in the newly formed Department of Biology. As one of the first in the department, he also has had a hand in helping to develop and evolve the curriculum over time. He has taught 13 unique classes — and among those, he created eight, co-created one and adapted three that were initially created by another faculty member. 

And with these courses, he has continued to work at refining and improving them to meet the needs of his students. 

Dr. Kristina Hillesland, associate professor and chair of the Biological Sciences Division, has worked with White since the beginning, having been the third faculty member to join the department. 

“I have considered Dr. White’s teaching and his care for our students to be an example I strive to emulate,” Hillesland wrote in her nomination letter. “His teaching — and everything he does to improve it — is focused on making sure every student has the opportunity to succeed, especially those who are struggling or often ‘left out.’” 

Committed to student success

Hillesland noted that White’s support has impacted not only his own students but also the campus at large. One of the earliest and longest-lasting initiatives during his time at UW Bothell is the Peer Facilitator program, where students gain teaching skills and valuable experience by facilitating groups of learners. 

In the program’s first year in 2012, 88 students were in a class supported by a peer facilitator. Now, more than 2,000 students per year are assisted by peer facilitators. Throughout his fine-tuning of the program, White involved the peer facilitators in the tests, offering them a chance to do research. 

Providing equitable opportunities for research experience has long been a priority for him. 

In 2019, White initiated a partnership with the Institute for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine at UW Medicine and worked to create a scholarship for UW Bothell students, with a focus on increasing the number of people not traditionally represented in stem cell science. 

“Aside from being an exceptional teacher, Dr. White is also an excellent mentor,” wrote Dang Truong, a 2024 Biology alumna, in her nomination letter. “When I first arrived at UW Bothell as a first-generation student, I aspired to pursue research but lacked guidance. My life changed when I joined the summer research program at ISCRM. Dr. White mentored me and other undergraduates, guiding us through the research world.” 

Truong recalled that White encouraged her to go after other opportunities as well and that — thanks to his support — she received other research scholarships, including a Mary Gates Scholarship, and was honored with a Husky 100 Award. 

Social and emotional support

White has consistently included and encouraged students in his work. He also made their well-being the subject of his research. With support from student researchers, White partnered in 2023 with Dr. Linda Eaton, associate professor in the School of Nursing & Health Studies, to develop a mindfulness recording to help reduce stress during exams. 

His interest in mindfulness and meditation stems from his own mental health struggles, which he has openly shared with his students. He said he is passionate about teaching to the “whole person” and is often able to help students who are similarly struggling. 

“I don’t shy away from mental health challenges,” he said. “In class, I make time for those little brain nuggets or acknowledgments of that voice inside your head that might be telling you you’re an imposter. Because I teach a lot about the brain and I have the lived experience of a brain that sometimes goes against me, I love that I’m in a position where I can speak to that and sometimes resonate with students or at least help them understand others who may be struggling.” 

For Emerald Chuesh, a 2025 Health Studies alumna and an undergraduate researcher on the project, White’s way of meeting students where they are and supporting them to grow from there was just what she needed to get out of her shell. Chuesh, who received the President’s Medal at Commencement on June 15, was shy and anxious about presenting in front of others, but White was able to help her move outside her comfort zone. 

“Bryan sticks with his research assistants through the long days of data analysis and supports our plans by sharing his professional considerations and critiques,” she said. “Overall, his beaming personality truly rubs off on our team as he motivates us to do the best work we can do. 

“He is an exceptionally caring and kind professor. As a mentor, he is equally, if not more, caring and supportive. Doing research under him has been an absolute pleasure.” 

Learn about research opportunities and labs at the School of STEM.