Dr. Greg Patenaude named 2026 Board of Governors Teaching Chair

trevor.kenney — Tue, 05 May 2026 21:08:49 +0000

An excellent instructor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Dr. Greg Patenaude has a proven record of leadership in advancing teaching practices and supporting fellow ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ while going beyond expectations to create challenging, meaningful, hands-on learning experiences for students.

Patenaude is being recognized for his dedication to student learning and advancing teaching across the institution by being named the 2026 Board of Governors Teaching Chair.

The Board of Governors Teaching Chair recognizes teaching excellence and the scholarship of teaching and learning at ULethbridge.

The Board of Governors Teaching Chair recognizes teaching excellence and the scholarship of teaching and learning at ULethbridge. Patenaude will be recognized at Fall 2026 Convocation.

Dr. Greg Patenaude

Dr. Greg Patenaude readily accepts failure from his students; in fact, it is when his students try and fail that he believes the most effective learning is achieved. Trial and error —learning by doing, failing, and re-doing — provides students the opportunity to reflect and reassess their process and, in the end, perform their task with a different and effective outcome.

An instructor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Patenaude believes that good teaching facilitates how students learn, and good teaching provides opportunities for students to make mistakes. To make mistakes in chemistry is to work on problems, so Patenaude implements a flipped classroom, whereby students view pre-recorded lecture videos and read theory as preparation for class and actually do their homework (problems) in class. This allows him to observe students working on their problems and offer feedback in real time.

The flipped classroom concept is just one innovative technique Patenaude utilizes to help students find success in their studies. Teaching every level of class from entry to senior, he understands uniquely the challenges students face and the learning progression from year to year. He’s developed worksheets for students in organic chemistry who need extra practice on concepts, and organized the Ochem Club, a series of unofficial tutorial sessions for students studying organic chemistry — which he wasn’t even teaching at the time. He also created a new course, Chem 2320 – History of Chemistry, as a liberal education-qualified course.

Patenaude is also keenly engaged in advancing teaching across the institution, and as a Teaching Fellow (2016-2018) he initiated the Peer Mentorship Program, which he continues to lead. This program fosters cross-department and cross-faculty collaboration and supports new instructors in developing their teaching practice. He works closely with the Teaching Centre and is actively involved in the Instructional Skills Workshops (ISW).

A Bachelor of Science graduate from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Guelph, Patenaude earned his PhD in Main Group Chemistry from ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria before serving as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Université de Montréal. He joined the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in 2004.

In his Board of Governor’s Teaching Chair Research Proposal, Patenaude is focusing on researching the impact of the Peer Mentorship Program and looking to identify areas where the program can be improved to ensure its longevity. He will also continue his involvement with and support for Teaching Centre programs and initiatives.

Taking a little off the top

trevor.kenney — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:18:21 +0000

The annual Headshave for Cancer event takes place Wednesday, Mar. 30 in the UHall Atrium. Kelly Roberts, sound technician for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre, is shaving his head in support of the Canadian Cancer Society in conjunction with HeadShave Canada and the
U of L's Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Omicron-Xi Chapter.

Here, Roberts is getting a little help from David Green, a cancer survivor and the Faculty of Fine Arts shop head carpenter. While Roberts might have the most to lose, he's just one of a number of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ staff, students and faculty lopping it all off for the cause.

Pick up a pledge form from any of the participants to donate. Kevin McFadzen and Jeff Hilliard (Sport and Recreation Services) will join Roberts on Mar. 30, while Wayne Lippa (chemistry and biochemistry), Ardis Anderson (philosophy), Greg Patenaude (chemistry and biochemistry) and Peter Dibble (chemistry and biochemistry) all supported the Flying Doctors of Canada by having their locks lopped off on Mar. 11.

For a look at the March issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

UNews - Greg Patenaude

Dr. Greg Patenaude named 2026 Board of Governors Teaching Chair

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Taking a little off the top

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