English Senior Lecturer Wendy Erhardt prides herself on helping Montgomery County Community College students become better acclimated to the campus and all its vast offerings.
Erhardt, a part-time faculty member who primarily teaches English 101, introduces her students to the campus wellness center, help desk, tutoring services, and librarians. She requires each student to visit a tutor and meet with a librarian at least once.
The hope is that students will see how rewarding these offerings are and continue to use them.
“For me, establishing a really positive community, and building it with the students, is a priority,” she stated. “I like to show them they are part of a bigger community at Montco.”
The instructor’s community-building approach earned her students’ approval, who nominated her for the Barnes & Noble Part-Time Faculty Teaching Excellence Award. The student-nominated recognition celebrates adjunct faculty members who provide intellectually stimulating, accessible, and compassionate instruction. The award was announced and presented during the 2026 Commencement ceremonies on May 14.
Winning was a “happy surprise,” Erhardt said.
“My priority is to build connections with them and have them build connections with each other,” she noted. “The award was a recognition of those connections.”
Class of 2026 Montco graduate Vincent Nguyen said Professor Erhardt “made the biggest impact on me.” Beyond English 101, Nguyen, a Liberal Studies (A.A.) major, stayed in touch with his professor and sought guidance from her with college admissions post-Montco.
“She’s the perfect example of why it’s so important to develop sincere and good relationships with your professors,” Nguyen said. “She was really the reason I got into my dream school.”
In their nomination forms, students praised Erhardt as a Montco standout — pointing to her meaningful feedback, approachable personality, and ability to make every student feel heard and valued. They described her classroom as a place where students feel welcomed, encouraged, and pushed to grow, and her teaching style as engaging, thoughtful, and highly interactive. Her compassion and commitment to supporting students both academically and personally came up repeatedly.
That investment extends beyond the curriculum. Erhardt makes a point to check in with students as they juggle school, work, and family life, and says that getting to know each other as a class benefits everyone.
“Everybody becomes more comfortable sharing their writing and offering feedback,” she said. “It is a thrill for me to see students grow more confident in their writing through the semester. Establishing a positive atmosphere encourages this process.”
A Chester County native, Erhardt strives to extend the community she was welcomed into when she began teaching at Montco in 2010. She “made connections” beginning “literally the first day” with a professor across the hall from her, who she still considers a best friend.
The professors she shares office space with are also part of her “big community” at Montco.
“Everyone’s really generous with their time,” she said. “Our office includes professors who teach a variety of classes, including math, business, and public speaking, yet we all collaborate really well.”
Together, the professors often share ideas and food.
Before joining the community at Montco, Erhardt taught high school English through her twenties.
“I loved it,” she recalled. “It was great.”
But with three young daughters at home, she sought a teaching career with more flexibility.
Similar to the “happy surprise” of winning the Barnes & Noble Part-Time Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, Erhardt did not initially set out to become a teacher.
A West Chester University graduate, Erhardt had planned to work in publishing but also earned her teaching certification. After realizing how much she loved her student teaching experience, she shifted gears to teaching jobs in the Lehigh Valley while earning her master’s degree from Kutztown University.
Her work at Montco provides the balance she sought while raising her young family. Now that her three daughters are grown, she and her husband, Joe, travel (most recently to Ireland), enjoy time in New York City, attend the theater, and spend time with their family.
About Our Partner
Montgomery County Community College
Montgomery County Community College exists to open doors. With more than 100 degree and certificate programs, two campuses rooted in the heart of Montgomery County, and a track record of sending graduates into careers and four-year universities, MCCC is where neighbors become nurses, business owners, and engineers. It’s where the Philadelphia region comes to learn, grow, and give back.
Learn more
