Simona Pruteanu from Laurier's Languages and Literatures department and recipient of the 2024 Excellence in Internationalization Award, shares her passion for creating a multicultural and inclusive curriculum that incorporates guest speakers, creative assessments like storytelling and comic book creation, and career-integrated learning opportunitie…

Max Gwynn from Laurier’s Psychology Department and recipient of the 2024 Sustained Excellence in Teaching Award reflects on his mentors and the teachers who have shaped him as an educator, and discusses the importance of stories, humour, and personal anecdotes on engaging students. He shares how his focus on increasing students’ self-efficacy allow…

Sara Klinck from Laurier's Music Therapy program and recipient of the 2023 Sustained Excellence Award in the Part-time Category shares her journey from a clinical music therapist to an inspiring educator, emphasizing the importance of self-discovery, humility, and lifelong learning in her pedagogical approach. Sara’s commitment to fostering a suppo…

Professor Scott Nicholson from Laurier’s Game Design and Development program shares his passion for creating unique and inspiring learning experiences through games. Not only does Scott teach about games, he also weaves meaningful gamification principles throughout his teaching, igniting students’ interest in both the subject matter, and their own …

Danielle Law from Laurier's Psychology and Youth and Children's Studies programs and recipient of the 2023 Faculty Mentoring Award, shares her mentorship philosophy rooted in trust, support, and mutual respect. She explains how her emphasis on "red means love" in her grading shifts the way students receive academic feedback, fostering a positive, s…

Robert Ame from Laurier’s Human Rights and Human Diversity delves into his comprehensive approach towards enriching educational experiences through internationalization. He shares his journey as an international student from Ghana to Norway and Canada and how those experiences shaped his teaching philosophy centered on the value of cross-cultural k…

Amilah Baksh from Laurier’s Faculty of Social Work shares her holistic approach to education, which acknowledges the significance of positionality and identity and invites both educators and students to bring their entire selves into the classroom. Amilah discusses how establishing classroom community guidelines sets a foundation for respectful and…

2023 Early Career Excellence Award recipient Lisa Kuron from Laurier’s leadership program discusses her student-centered teaching approach which emphasizes being a 'guide on the side', utilizing classroom space creatively for diverse learning experiences, and instilling excitement about learning right from the first class. Lisa highlights the impor…

2023 Hoffman-Little award recipient Hind Al-Abadleh from Laurier’s Chemistry and Biochemistry Department discusses integrating science with societal and environmental issues, employing effective strategies for large classes, and promoting a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving. She reflects on her approach to self-care, how she helps stude…

2023 Staff Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Anne-marie Joy Henry from Laurier International shares the travels that have taken her across Canada and around the globe. These foundational intercultural experiences deeply inform her approach in her current role at Laurier, where she engages students in rich discussions of complex issues …

2023 Innovation in Teaching recipient Jonathan Finn, from Laurier’s Communication Studies department, reflects on how his unique self-tracking pedagogy not only fosters ownership among learners but also encourages reflection beyond the classroom. Jonathan helps students to co-create their learning environments and personalise their learning, and di…

2023 Sustained Excellence in Teaching recipient Tracy Snoddon, from Laurier’s Economics department joins Debora VanNijnatten, academic director of Teaching Excellence and Innovation to discuss her efforts to connect with students individually and create an impactful and supportive learning environment, emphasizing real-world applications, active te…

Shauansea Brown in Laurier’s Communication Studies department discusses how she creates an environment where students can have difficult conversations safely by building trust and a collective care ethic in her classroom. Dr. Brown discusses how she encourages students to bring their lived experiences into her course. She also helps students unpack…

Michael Woodford from Laurier’s Faculty of Social Work discusses creating supportive and inclusive classrooms and campuses that support 2SLGBTQ+ students and faculty. Michael’s research work on large studies like Thriving on Campus helps campus communities understand how to better support the needs of diverse 2SLGBTQ+ students in and beyond the cla…

Steve MacNeil from Laurier’s Chemistry and Biochemistry department discusses his journey from a blended and flipped classroom into scaffolding a metacognition co-curriculum throughout his courses to help students reflect not only on what they know, but on how they learn. Steve talks about how techniques like collaborative testing and IF-AT cards ha…

Faculty Mentoring Award recipient Paula Fletcher from Laurier’s Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education joins Mary Wilson, vice-provost of Teaching and Learning, in conversation to discuss how she helps build confidence in students, the importance of faculty mentoring one another and the mentors who have shaped her journey. Laurier’s Donal…

Staff Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning recipient Lydia Awuah-Mensah from Laurier’s Career Development Centre joins Mary Wilson, vice-provost of Teaching and Learning, in conversation to discuss how she helps students reflect on their skill development, navigate transformative volunteer experiences and make meaning of the “Aha” moments …

Hoffman-Little Award recipient Michael Cinelli from Laurier’s Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education joins Mary Wilson, vice-provost of Teaching and Learning, in conversation to discuss his approach to mentorship, how he helps students find balance in their lives, and strategies he uses to create thriving classroom and lab environments. L…

Laurier Teaching Fellow Richelle Monaghan from Laurier’s Community Health and Biology programs joins Mary Wilson, vice-provost of Teaching and Learning, in conversation to discuss creating community in the classroom, structuring courses with empathy and the impacts of embedding Universal Design for Learning into her teaching. The Laurier Teaching F…

Early Career Excellence Award recipient Colin Labadie from Laurier’s Faculty of Music joins Mary Wilson, Laurier’s vice-provost of Teaching and Learning, in conversation to discuss creating supportive and inclusive classroom environments that allow instructors and students to inspire and improvise with one another, and the role that care and compas…

Innovation in Teaching Award recipient Michelle Skop from Laurier’s Faculty of Social Work joins Mary Wilson, vice-provost of Teaching and Learning, in conversation to discuss bringing simulation-based education into the Social Work classroom, centring community in teaching, and creating classrooms that flourish by being open to possibility. Laurie…

Early Career Excellence Award recipient Jennifer Holm from Laurier’s Faculty of Education joins Mary Wilson, vice-provost of Teaching and Learning, in conversation to discuss moving mathematics education forward, keeping the focus on students and their thinking, and leading by example in the classroom. Laurier’s Donald F. Morgenson Awards for Teach…

Sustained Excellence Award recipient Kevin Spooner, who teaches in Laurier’s North American Studies and History programs, joins Mary Wilson, vice-provost of Teaching and Learning, in conversation to discuss his student-centred approach to teaching and reflect on the arc of his career, including being an early pioneer the flipped classroom, while sh…