History prof is first recipient of new U of G and CAUT awards
At its annual awards ceremony Oct. 21, the University of Guelph Faculty Association (UGFA) marked its 50th anniversary by presenting six Distinguished Professor Awards, an Academic Librarianship Award, a Special Merit Award and — for the first time ever — an Award for Excellence in Service to Faculty and Librarians.
The new award, which was presented to Prof. Keith Cassidy, History, honours his outstanding contributions that have had a significant impact on faculty and librarians at U of G. Cassidy, who served as UGFA president from 1996 to 1997, “has played a key role in the development of virtually every major policy relating to terms and conditions of work for faculty,” says current president Prof. Roz Stevenson, Microbiology. “He can be credited with a consistent effort to ensure that academic freedom is protected and respected for scholars in the University community.”
Cassidy was doubly honoured at the ceremony with his receipt of another new award, the Canadian Association of University Teachers' (CAUT) Dedicated Service Award. Designed to recognize individuals for exceptional service to their faculty associations, the award was presented by CAUT president Loretta Czernis. Also on hand were CAUT executive director Jim Turk; Michael Doucet, president of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA); and OCUFA executive director Henry Mandelbaum.
Stevenson notes that this year marks another milestone — the 20th anniversary of UGFA's Distinguished Professor and Librarianship Awards. They were established in 1984 to recognize people who make a difference both to their profession and in the lives of their students by ensuring the best instruction and research. The awards are based on student evaluations, letters of support from students and colleagues, and the recipients' contributions to curriculum development.
“Guelph has a great number of outstanding, dedicated and passionate teachers,” says Stevenson, “and this year's award winners truly illustrate the diversity and depth of that excellence.”
Prof. John Baird, Clinical Studies, received the award for the Ontario Veterinary College. Described by one colleague as “the most talented clinical teacher in veterinary medicine,” Baird was lauded by a student for his “special ability to teach students how to think rather than just lecturing knowledge.” Another colleague said Baird “is the perfect example of a committed, effective, dedicated and highly respected clinical teacher, and is very worthy of recognition for all he has done for generations of veterinary students.”
In the College of Physical and Engineering Science, the award went to Prof. Gerarda Darlington, Mathematics and Statistics. In one letter of support, a student wrote that Darlington's “teaching style, personality and passion for her career made her one of the best . . . professors that I had the pleasure to meet during my undergraduate studies.” A colleague described her as “enthusiastic, caring, energetic, collegial and approachable,” and said she has the ability to pedagogically connect to her students.
The award for the College of Biological Science was presented to Prof. Joe Lam, Microbiology. Described as “everything a professor should be,” he was cited for his ability to challenge students to understand the way research contributes to knowledge. “Dr. Lam is a fountain of knowledge and experience,” wrote one student. Said another: “Dr. Lam loves learning, and out of his love for learning comes his love to educate. He always says everyone has the potential in them to learn and no one should be deprived of learning.”
Prof. Maurice Nelischer, Environmental Design and Rural Development, is this year's winner for the Ontario Agricultural College. “Teaching is, in many respects, theatre, and Maurice is a consummate performer,” wrote a faculty colleague. Students lauded his interactive and engaging teaching style, his “unsurpassable” knowledge, his dedication, his approachability and his commitment to producing well-trained, passionate students of landscape architecture. “His imprint on our school is immense, helping to keep our education experience current and competitive.”
The UGFA award for the College of Arts went to Prof. Dorothy Odartey-Wellington, Languages and Literatures, who is described as “an accomplished teacher, a rising authority in course and curriculum development, and a driving force in the development of innovative teaching methods.” Students lauded her passionate teaching, her ability to challenge students to think and her willingness to be challenged in return. Wrote a colleague: “She never ducks a question, never shortchanges a student because she is in a rush, never arrives in class unprepared.”
In the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences, the award went to Prof. Jim Pickworth, Hospitality and Tourism Management, who retired in 2003 and was honoured for his many years of enthusiastic and effective teaching and student advising. “For Jim, educating isn't limited to teaching students the principles and practices of hospitality management,” wrote a colleague. “It also includes inspiring students to discover and pursue their passion within their chosen area of study.” A student lauded him for his “contagious passion for the hospitality industry that inspires his students.”
The UGFA presented its 2004 Academic Librarianship Award to Lorna Rourke, academic liaison librarian for the School of English and Theatre Studies (SETS). She was cited for enhancing the electronic collections in SETS, for teaching students how to become better researchers and for organizing a “Freedom to Read” event in the library to consider the importance of intellectual freedom and the dangers of censorship. One nominator described Rourke as “a role model for future academic librarians and an ambassador for the University of Guelph Library.”
A Special Merit Award was presented to biochemistry professor Bob Keates for his innovative contributions to the development of web-based instruction. He was lauded for developing “a truly world-class” web resource based on protein structure and function, which has proved to be a highly effective mode of teaching. Describing Keates as “a genuine scholar,” a colleague wrote: “I know of no one who keeps up with the biochemical literature the way he does. My students and I have long considered him to be an encyclopedia of biochemical information.”
