Congratulations to College of Western Idaho (CWI) Assistant Professor of Humanities and Honors Program Coordinator, Michal Yadlin, who has been named Faculty of Distinction for April 2026.
Yadlin has been part of the CWI community since 2014, beginning as an adjunct instructor before joining full time in 2021. She currently teaches Honors Seminar (HON 198), Humanities (HUMA 207), and History courses including World History II (HIST 102) and United States History II (HIST 112). Through her classes, Yadlin encourages students to examine the world through new perspectives while connecting ideas across disciplines, experiences, and cultures.
“I teach because I can be a conduit for knowledge to my students,” she said. “I want to help students explore the world they are already living in and shift their lens in a different way so they can appreciate new perspectives and new ideas.”
Yadlin earned a bachelor’s degree in History with minors in Music and Education from The College of Idaho, along with a Master of Arts in Teaching. She later earned a second master’s degree in History from Boise State University and is currently pursuing a PhD in Humanities and Technology through Salve Regina University.
Her approach to teaching reflects the broader learning environment she sees at CWI, where students encounter people and perspectives different from their own.
“At CWI, students connect directly with their instructors, and they are surrounded by classmates from many different backgrounds and experiences,” she said. “Just being part of those conversations exposes students to new ideas.”
That emphasis on exploration and connection extends beyond the classroom. Colleagues describe Yadlin as someone who consistently looks for ways to expand opportunities for students and strengthen the broader CWI community. Alongside teaching, she oversees the Honors Program, serves on the College’s Culture Committee, co-authored an open educational resources (OER) textbook, and was recently named to the Idaho Humanities Council Board.
Colleagues have highlighted not only Yadlin’s leadership and service, but also the energy and positivity she brings to each role. They note that her work continues to create opportunities for student development, collaboration, and community engagement while supporting both faculty and students across the College.
For Yadlin, education extends far beyond course content alone.
“CWI instructors are not just focused on content,” she said. “We focus on helping students discover how they can apply skills to any job, any relationship, or any future degree program.”
One experience that continues to stand out to her came while traveling with three Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society students to Catalyst in Ohio. After days spent exploring the city and learning together, the students jokingly reflected that “when you travel with Michal, you walk a lot and you learn a lot.”
“For me, that really captured the kind of learning experience I hope students have,” she said. “It was one of the best compliments I've received."
Originally from the East Coast, Yadlin grew up in New York and New Hampshire before later moving to California with her family. She has lived in Boise since 2010. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys hiking the foothills, baking sourdough, reading on her patio, traveling, and playing cello with the Meridian Symphony Orchestra.
