June 30, 2022
Excellence among educators recognized in 2022 Celebration of Teaching
Two years of rapid change and new challenges have led students and faculty alike to become more adaptable, innovative and open-minded in their approaches to teaching and learning.
This year's in-person celebration of the 2022 ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½ Teaching Awards recipients recognized the extraordinary efforts that educators have put into creating valuable learning experiences for their students in blended, online and in-person environments.Ìý
Since 2014, the teaching awards have been an opportunity for the acknowledgement and celebration of outstanding contributions to teaching and learning. Recipients of a ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½ Teaching Award are nominated by their fellow students, faculty and staff. They are recognized for their expertise and commitment to enriching the quality and breadth of learning.
A ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½ Teaching Award is a distinguished honour for members of our university community. Awards are available in 14 categories, recognizing teaching excellence in diverse learning contexts by individuals and teams, through curriculum design and educational leadership.Ìý
Recognizing meaningful contributions to student experiences
Dr. Victoria Fast, PhD, assistant professor from the Department of Geography in the Faculty of Arts, is just one of many educators who were recognized at the Celebration of Teaching on June 28. Fast was celebrated for her commitment to the integration of experiential learning and applied learning across all levels of courses she teaches and received the Award for Experiential Learning Initiatives. Her continual consideration for access, equity, diversity and inclusivity within the student experience has helped her stand out in the field of experiential learning.
Fast is responsible for the development of the urban studies program capstone course (UBST 591). Grounded in service-based and work-integrated learning experiences, the course is a part of a multi-year partnership with the Federation of Calgary Communities. Groups of four to six students are paired with community associations and their residents to work on locally important projects.
As one of Fast's former students said, “The engagement with the community was an incredibly valuable learning experience. Learning to work with a community association in a real-world scenario helped me gain valuable skills and experience.â€
Fast has also volunteered as a research stream supervisor for the UNIV 302 Research on Global Challenges course, where she developed and led the research stream on Toward a More Accessible Canada: Urban and Digital Design. This important work speaks to university priorities in both experiential learning and equity, diversity, and inclusion.
2022 ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½ Teaching Award recipients
Award for full-time academic staffÌý
Assistant professor: Dr. Morgan Vanek, PhD, Faculty of ArtsÌý
Associate professor: Dr. Craig Jenne, PhD, Cumming School of MedicineÌý
Instructor: Dr. Lauren DeDieu, PhD, Faculty of ScienceÌý
Senior instructor: Dilshad Pirani, Faculty of Nursing, ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½ in Qatar
Award for graduate assistants (teaching)Ìý
Kathryn Blair, Faculty of Science, Faculty of ArtsÌý
Alexandra Guebert, Faculty of ScienceÌý
Maimuna S. Khan, Faculty of Social WorkÌý
Award for graduate supervisionÌý
Dr. Christine Walsh, PhD, Faculty of Social WorkÌý
Award for sessional instructorsÌý
Jane Slessor, Faculty of Social WorkÌý
Dr. Jeff Turner, PhD, Werklund School of EducationÌý
Charlene Richard, Faculty of Social Work
Award for educational leadership
Individual, formal: Dr. Dawn Johnston, PhD, Faculty of ArtsÌý
Individual, informal: Dr. Lorelli Nowell, PhD, Faculty of Nursing
Award for non-academic staffÌý
Maria Fernandez, Faculty of Social Work
Award for workplace-integrated educationÌý
Dr. Divya Garg, MD, Cumming School of Medicine
Award for experiential learning initiativesÌý
Dr. Victoria Fast, PhD, Faculty of Arts
Award for blended and online learningÌý
Dr. Roswita Dressler, PhD, Werklund School of Education
Award for curriculum developmentÌý
Bioengineering Summer Institute Curriculum Development Team: Dr. Qiao Sun, PhD, Dr. Laleh Behjat, PhD, Dr. Elena Di Martino, PhD, Miriam Nightingale, Alina Ismaguilova, Robyn Paul and Kat Dornian, Schulich School of Engineering
Award for continuing and professional educationÌý
Ivy Young, Continuing Education and Cumming School of Medicine
Award for team teachingÌý
Dr. Régine King, PhD, and Dr. Patrina Duhaney, PhD, Faculty of Social WorkÌý
Award for Indigenous ways of knowingÌý
Sandra Manyfeathers, Werklund School of EducationÌý
Dr. Erin Spring, PhD and Dr. Aubrey Hanson, PhD, Werklund School of EducationÌý
Dr. Pamela Roach, PhD, Cumming School of MedicineÌý
For more information on the ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½ Teaching Awards, visit the
About the Taylor Institute for Teaching and LearningÌý
The Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning is dedicated to better understanding and improving student learning at the ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½. Its mission is to strengthen teaching and learning communities, cultures and practices to create extraordinary learning experiences.
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