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PhD candidate Ali Syed is an exceptional educator and mentor within the School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science. One student highlighted Ali's devoted approach to teaching: "Ali actively sought opportunities to guest lecture, provide additional resources like sample examination questions, and facilitate collaborative interprofessional events."

Ali's exceptional dedication and enthusiasm have left a profound impact on those he encounters. One faculty member stated: "I have yet to come across a guest speaker who demonstrates as much passion and enthusiasm as Ali. I was incredibly impressed by his dedication to his work and his students."

A faculty member praised Ali's supportive and inclusive teaching environment: "Feedback on his teaching is overwhelmingly positive, with students appreciating his ability to create a supportive and inclusive environment, his thorough feedback so students can identify areas of strength and of future growth, and his ability to guide them through problem-solving for complex scenarios with increasing independence."

Jeremy Cohen, Kinesiology & Health Sciences

PhD candidate Jeremy Cohen is a dedicated and innovative educator in the Faculty of Health. One student highlighted Jeremy's unique approach to classroom activities: "This was something I had never seen in a university class before -- it made asking questions way less intimidating," referring to Jeremy's use of the discussion-based strategy known as the "snowball fight."��

Another student noted Jeremy's ability to create an engaging and insightful classroom environment: "By consistently asking thought-provoking questions throughout his lectures, he fostered an interactive learning environment that kept students engaged and actively thinking."

A faculty member commended Jeremy's foresight and clarity in assessments, which "used clear rubrics and were able to anticipate many of the roadblocks the students would be running into in the course assessments."

Serena McDiarmid, Psychology

PhD student Serena McDiarmid is an outstanding educator in the Faculty of Arts. One student attributed the high level of engagement in her classes to the inclusive environment she fosters, stating that it "allowed for the overwhelming level of participation and questions asked in class."

Another student appreciated Serena's interactive teaching methods: "Her commitment to communicating course information in an interactive manner ensures students are attentive and remember those concepts."

Serena's early adoption of Universal Design principles and her steadfast support for fellow instructors in course development have earned her widespread praise from her peers. A faculty member highlighted Serena's reflective and evolving teaching practices: "Serena continually engages in deep reflection and revision of her teaching methods."

The Amit & Meena Chakma Awards for Exceptional Teaching by a Student (AETS) awards are open to all students who have a formal teaching role at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ. Up to four awards are given annually in recognition of excellence in teaching of all kinds by registered students.

Distinguished Teacher Award 2025, Honourable Mention

In addition to the DTA awards featured in yesterday's Daily Bulletin and the AETS awards featured today, the Distinguished Teacher Award Committee has recognized Professor Katy Fulfer with an honourable mention.

Katy Fulfer, Philosophy

This year's Distinguished Teacher Award committee is presenting��Katy��Fulfer with an Honourable Mention in recognition of her extraordinary courage and care in the face of targeted classroom violence that occurred in June 2023. Her nomination packages notes, "the extent to which [Dr. Fulfer] protected and supported her students during and after the incident," taking the brunt of the violence and allowing all but two students to escape without physical harm. As soon as she possibly could, she worked with her department and the University to find ways to help students who wanted to continue with the course, who needed support, and/or who otherwise wanted to connect with her.

The committee wants to acknowledge that��Katy��went above and beyond the call of duty to protect her students. That Dr. Fulfer did so reflects not just her courage on the day but also her longstanding commitment to, and prioritization of, the interests of her students.��

Although she did not receive a DTA this year,��Katy's nomination dossier demonstrated a record of teaching accomplishments that embodies the spirit of this award, through intentional and ongoing commitment to her students and through her equity-centred, inclusive pedagogical approach throughout her teaching career to date.

CORE digs deep and expands its horizons

Drs. Chelsea Bray, Lyndon Jones and Jill Woods.

A message from the School of Optometry & Vision Science.

The largest research centre of the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ School of Optometry and Vision Science is expanding its scope. The����(CORE) will continue to carry out its world-leading front-of-eye research while applying its nearly 40 years of research experience to a broader range of fields.

CORE’s leadership will change as part of this shift, though research partners will notice no difference as a steering committee takes over the strategic planning decisions of CORE from Dr. Lyndon Jones, who is stepping aside at the end of June after 15 years as CORE director.

“Lyndon has been instrumental in shaping CORE into an internationally renowned research entity. He has done so much to position the centre at the forefront of anterior segment ocular research,” said Dr. Jill Woods, CORE’s longtime head of clinical research, who will chair the new steering committee. “To expand CORE’s scope, we need a broader leadership team with additional expertise. The new steering committee has the varied skill set necessary.”

CORE will integrate into the ��ݮ��Ƶ Eye Institute (WEI), which is being built both physically and as a group of people aiming to create Canada’s premier centre for optometric research, patient care and education. A once-in-a-generation renovation, expansion and reorganization, the WEI will feature a modernized clinic, more space for clinical research and new integrative research centres.

Read the full story on the Optometry & Vision Science website.

Unlocking the mysteries of the universe

This is the first in a series of stories published in the 2025 issue of ��ݮ��Ƶ Magazine.

In 2014, Dr. Avery Broderick and 13 other scientists formed the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration, aiming to capture images of black holes. Their efforts led to the first-ever photo of a black hole at the centre of the M87 galaxy in 2019, which captivated the world. In 2024, they released new images of Sagittarius A*, further intriguing the public.

Black holes challenge the reconciliation of general relativity and quantum mechanics, which drives modern theoretical physics. ��ݮ��Ƶ's significant contributions to the EHT highlight its pivotal role.��

Read more about how the EHT collaboration plans to expand, enhancing our understanding of black holes and gravity.

The power of inclusive storytelling

By Sarah Fullerton. This is an excerpt of an article originally published on ��ݮ��Ƶ News.

Second-year Biomedical Sciences student is an advocate, an author, and a passionate leader. When she was six years old, her brother was diagnosed with a severe anaphylactic peanut allergy. The diagnosis transformed her family’s life, as her brother navigated new challenges like social isolation. At sixteen years old, Papazian made it her mission to make a difference in healthcare, no matter her age. She began volunteering at a children’s rehabilitation facility, where she connected with other children facing similar experiences.��