CSAHS honours two profs, grad student for teaching excellence
BY REBECCA KENDALL
Three outstanding U of G educators have been recognized with College of Social and Applied Human Sciences (CSAHS) Teaching Awards.
Profs. Francesco Leri, Psychology, and Joan Flaherty, Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM), were selected by the college teaching awards committee for their dedication to teaching and effective instruction. Political science MA candidate Nicole Goodman is the recipient of the Graduate Student Teaching Award.
“I was delighted to receive the recommendations of the committee,” says CSAHS dean Alun Joseph. “As faculty, Flaherty and Leri represent the various paths to teaching excellence that exist in the college, and Goodman exemplifies the enthusiasm and professionalism that graduate students bring to their teaching responsibilities.”
The winners will receive their awards this fall at the annual CSAHS awards night.
“I'm really pleased that we have this opportunity to recognize the achievements of three colleagues,” says Joseph. “Long may they educate and inspire.”
Leri joined the faculty of U of G three years ago. His research has focused on poly-drug addiction and relapse, and he has taught courses on the principles of learning, learning and physiology, and research methods.
Leri says he's “delighted” to receive the award and believes that much of his teaching achievement can be attributed to the quality of undergraduate students at U of G, who seek and appreciate intense academic stimulation.
“My deepest gratitude goes to those students who were trained in my laboratory,” he says. “Their passion for research has greatly contributed to my development as a teacher and a scientist.”
Prof. Serge Desmarais, Psychology, who chaired the awards committee, says Leri impresses his colleagues with the quality of his teaching, his responsiveness to students and his dedication to the teaching component of his career.
“He is an outstanding researcher with several grants and an impressive publication record,” says Desmarais, “and we were impressed by the dedication and enthusiasm shown in combining the teaching and research aspects of his academic career.”
Economics professor David Prescott and Prof. Julia Christensen-Hughes, director of Teaching Support Services, also served on the selection committee.
Flaherty has taught a range of courses, including hospitality and tourism business communications and management communications. Before joining the HTM faculty in 1995, she taught English at U of G. Much of her research has been dedicated to instructional development and teaching issues as they pertain to adult education. She has also worked in the private sector as an editor and training facilitator.
“Joan is a highly deserving instructor,” says Desmarais. “She has been commended for her dedication not only by many of her students but also by many of her colleagues.”
He says the committee was impressed by her extensive involvement in teaching, her commitment to and rapport with students, and the energy she devotes to teaching-related endeavours, including her role as co-ordinator of the HTM writing advisory service for MBA students.
“She is the sole instructor for more than 175 undergraduates, 25 residential MBAs and 30 eMBA students,” says HTM director Marion Joppe, who nominated Flaherty. “Although every one of these cohorts provides very different challenges and maturity levels, she adapts to each of their styles and needs, as reflected in her excellent student evaluations.”
Goodman was nominated for her award by grad student Mike Glinka.
“Nicole has the drive and intellectual talent to allow students to make goals for themselves in the classroom and in real life, and she's enlightened me to strive for a much higher standard than I thought possible,” says Glinka. “I can't thank her enough. Teachers are the foundation of a great society, and Nicole exemplifies that.”
Desmarais says the committee was impressed by Goodman's attention to detail, the care with which she develops instructional material and the highly positive comments received from her students, including Julia Drennan, who wrote: “Nicole makes me feel comfortable. I have never had such a positive experience with a TA. Her dedication has motivated me to work harder and be a critical writer.”
Former student Mark Abramowitz wrote: “I am a second-year transfer student from York University, and out of all the TA's I've had, none have shown the dedication to students that Nicole has.”
Many of her students also commended her for her willingness to provide one-on-one attention.
