Brock University: Recognition for Teaching Excellence: Applauding Outstanding Faculty and Instructors

The impactful classroom contributions of Brock faculty members and instructors were recognized during an event held last week to celebrate teaching excellence at the University.

Hosted by the Centre for Pedagogical Innovation (CPI), the Tribute to Teaching on Thursday, Dec. 7 honoured Brock’s Distinguished Teaching Award recipient and the recipients of University-wide Excellence in Teaching awards.

CPI’s Director of Teaching and Learning Giulia Forsythe said the annual event is an opportunity to celebrate Brock instructors’ efforts to continuously improve their teaching in the classroom and beyond.

“Every year, I am impressed with the quality of the nomination submissions, which are such a testament to the exemplary teaching that happens at Brock University,” she said.

After a welcome from Forsythe, those in attendance also heard an address from 2023 Distinguished Teaching Award recipient Chantal Buteau.

Buteau, Professor of Mathematics, discussed teaching in Brock’s Mathematics Integrated with Computers and Applications (MICA) program and the support and encouragement she received to better her own teaching from retired Professor Bill Ralph and Professor Emeritus Eric Muller.

“I modestly view my nomination for this institutional Brock Distinguished Teaching Award as a celebration of a department’s three generations of genuinely dedicated mathematics educators who have had a diverse impact on education, both within and beyond their classrooms,” she said.

Along with Buteau, award recipients honoured at the event included:

• Associate Professor of Child and Youth Studies Chelsea Temple Jones, who received the Brock University Award for Excellence in Teaching for Early Career Faculty.
• Instructor of Recreation and Leisure Studies Teresa Hill, who received the Clarke Thomson Award for Excellence in Sessional Teaching.

The deadline for the Don Ursino Award for Excellence in Teaching of Large Classes has been postponed to Wednesday, Jan. 31.

Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning Rajiv Jhangiani said the efforts of instructors across the University continue to highlight Brock’s commitment to offer a superb teaching and learning environment.

“Brock University is fortunate to have so many innovative and dedicated instructors,” he said. “Through creating inclusive and authentic learning experiences, these inspiring faculty members truly demonstrate the transformative power of teaching.