蓝莓视频

Four University of 蓝莓视频 faculty members have been recognized for excellence in teaching with the University鈥檚 most prestigious teaching honour - the Distinguished Teacher Award (DTA).

The DTA consists of a citation along with a $1,500 award to be used by the recipients in support of any teaching activities. The awards will be presented by Mario Coniglio, associate vice-president, academic, at the June convocation ceremony.

The recipients are chosen by a committee of students, faculty, staff and alumni based on nominations from the university community. The 2018听award winners are:

Wayne Chang

Lecturer, Conrad Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology Centre

As the Enterprise Co-op Program Coordinator, Wayne Chang has had an outstanding influence on the students he teaches. One of his undergraduate students commented that 鈥渉is practical approach and his ideas of process over product allowed for a course that I won鈥檛 forget after the exam.鈥� He has supported several students through the Enterprise Co-op Program who have gone on to become CEOs of their own companies. One such student noted that 鈥淲ayne's mentorship and guidance does not end when the semester does. He continues to have one of the most genuine interests in his student鈥檚 lives that I have ever seen.鈥� Chang has been recognized by his students for human qualities 鈥渂eyond his wealth of technical know-how and teaching excellence.鈥� One alumnus recounted 鈥渃ountless late nights engaging in valuable discussion鈥� with Chang and acknowledged that he 鈥渞epeatedly placed his reputation on the line鈥� to guide his students to success. Wayne Chang has had the honour of being recognized for teaching excellence from the Dean of Engineering and received the Outstanding Performance Award in 2014.

Shannon Dea

Associate Professor, Philosophy

Associate Professor of Philosophy Shannon Dea has been called a 鈥渃hampion of the Women Studies program.鈥� One of her graduate students noted, 鈥淚 definitely feel like I鈥檝e learned and still learn a lot from Prof Dea. Nearly every day I鈥檝e left a class of hers, my head feels like it鈥檚 just buzzing and brimming with new information and ways of thinking about aspects of the world I hadn鈥檛 considered before.鈥� Colleagues commented that, 鈥渋n a nutshell, Shannon does the unexpected in her teaching. She uses the unexpected and untraditional for several reasons, including: it keeps the learning atmosphere interesting, and it allows her to personally model risk and innovation to her students.鈥� Another colleague acknowledged that 鈥渞isk-taking, of course, is only valuable if the risks are worthwhile, and all of Professor Dea鈥檚 risks both aim at improving student learning and the student experience, and are studiously informed by evidence and research.鈥� Shannon Dea has previously been the proud recipient of the 2016 Arts Award for Excellence in Teaching and the 2012 Province of Ontario's Leading Women Building Communities Award.

Jake Fisher

Laboratory Instructor, Chemistry

Jake Fisher is a Lab Instructor in the Department of Chemistry and is renowned for his teaching by his students and colleagues alike. One of his undergraduate students remarked that 鈥渉is course notes are the most well written and in-depth course notes I鈥檝e come across during my undergraduate career. Jake is always welcoming and willing to help, his open-door policy for asking help ensures that students fully understand. You can tell that teaching is not just a job for him, but a passion.鈥� Fisher was also recognized for his patience by a graduate student: 鈥淚 remember going to him with the same problem multiple times and he was always as patient as he was the first time. Patience is his character trait. It鈥檚 also great to know that someone as knowledgeable as Dr. Fisher is positive about the student鈥檚 growth and success.鈥� Fisher鈥檚 approach to mentorship extends his impact to the Chemistry Department as a whole, as noted by a colleague: 鈥淛ake mentored me in such a way that I felt like I was responsible for supervising my students and not just simply 鈥榢eeping an eye on them.鈥欌�� Jake Fisher has had the honour of receiving the 2011 Excellence in Science Teaching Award.

Julie Kate Seirlis

Assistant Professor, International Development

Julie Kate Seirlis is an Assistant Professor at St. Paul鈥檚 University College whose 鈥渢ransformative and memorable鈥� teachings have inspired students, alumni, and colleagues. Nominees praise her 鈥済raceful guidance鈥� in the development of students鈥� 鈥渢ools for 鈥榗ritical thinking.鈥欌�� Her undergraduate students value that she 鈥渃onstantly challenges her students to go further and deeper. She has a desire to produce critical thinkers, people who ask questions.鈥� Graduate students are 鈥渕otivated by her genuine interest and engagement with issues of environmental justice, and [are] powered by her creativity and experience in development work, research, and professorship.鈥� An alumnus wrote: 鈥淚 was able to look back and see that she had led us on a brilliant learning journey.鈥� Several colleagues of Seirlis鈥檚 nominated her because 鈥渟he has been a consistent voice of support, has connected us to many valuable contacts, and has encouraged us to bring our work into the academic sphere.鈥�

2018听Amit and Meena Chakma Awards for Exceptional Teaching by a Student have also been announced:

The Amit and Meena Chakma Awards for Exceptional Teaching by a Student for 2018 will be presented to three student teachers at Convocation, Associate Provost, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs Jeff Casello announced at Monday's meeting of the University's Senate.

2018 recipients include:

Amanda Garcia

Amanda Garcia听is a PhD student in the Department of Systems Design Engineering. Students and faculty members recognized her as an approachable, knowledgeable, and dedicated instructor. A student remarked that 鈥渋t was very clear that she wanted the students to succeed as she went above and beyond to set up one-on-one extra help sessions, was flexible on group extra help times, and was very quick to respond to email questions.鈥� Another undergraduate student commented on her flexibility as an instructor, saying that 鈥淎manda was a great instructor because she was constantly willing to receive feedback and alter the way she was teaching the course for the better understanding of the students.鈥� Garcia has also been described by faculty members as 鈥渆xtremely patient and understanding with students.鈥� Garcia continues to keep her classes informative, relatable, and engaging. In 2017, she was the recipient of the University of 蓝莓视频 Certificate in University Teaching Award.听听

Garcia has been an instructor for SYDE 533, INDEV 212, and INDEV 212, as well as a Teaching Assistant for SYDE 261.

蚕耻颈苍濒补苍听尝别别

Quinlan Lee听is an undergraduate student in the Department of Economics. Known by his students for his patience, Lee is recognized as 鈥渁rticulate, adept at breaking down difficult concepts and always adopt[ing] a genuine approach to guiding students toward a firm understanding of lecture material.鈥� One student explained that 鈥淨uinlan provided a clear perspective on the material that goes beyond what was expected of a TA.鈥� One faculty member noted that 鈥渢he way he teaches the problems we agree that he will present and the way he explains how to tackle some problems are truly a complement to what I teach in class.鈥�听

Lee has been a Teaching Assistant in Econ 323 for three terms over the course of his university career.听听

Anton Mosunov

Anton Mosunov, a PhD student in Pure Mathematics, is highly recognized for his dedication to learning and teaching. When asked about Mosunov鈥檚 impact on student learning, one undergraduate student explained that 鈥渉e made the content interesting and easy to follow for every student. Not only did he provide great lectures, he also provided course notes and class videos to. . . ensure that we fully understood the material outside of class.鈥� Another student wrote that 鈥渁t office hours, Anton was always helpful. Whether I had a question about the course content itself, or things beyond the scope of the course, he was always enthusiastic in answering, and recommended further reading to me which allowed me to learn much more than one course could teach.鈥� In addition to his students鈥� support, a faculty member highlighted that 鈥渋n all cases, he went well beyond what was expected of him and was an essential contributor to the success of the course.鈥� His support serves as a testament to this recognition.听

Mosunov has been an instructor for Math 119, and PMATH 340. He has also been a teaching assistant for Math 147, Math 148, Math 647, and Math 648.