UNews - Excellence in Teaching Award

Biology instructor, Jennifer Burke, named 2025 Excellence in Teaching Award winner

trevor.kenney — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 15:48:58 +0000

Relationship building plays a key role in creating a student learning environment of mutual respect, engagement and collaboration for Jennifer Burke (BSc/BEd ’97, MSc ’06), who has been named the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s 2025 Excellence in Teaching Award winner.

With a passion for teaching biology and an ability to connect with students evident from the first moment she steps into a classroom, Burke actively creates bonds with her students, encourages them to bond with each other, engages students by using innovative teaching methods and takes their learning outdoors into the natural environment. She will be presented with the Excellence in Teaching Award at Fall 2025 Convocation, Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 10 a.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Centre for Sport and Wellness gymnasium.

Jennifer Burke is lauded for her ability to connect with her students.

Jennifer Burke

Not only is Jennifer Burke a teacher of biology, she is also a teacher of core values, such as integrity, respect, mutual understanding and trust, which she demonstrates in everything she does. Students and their learning are her top priorities. She has taught for more than 20 years at every level from elementary to post-secondary. Her philosophy hinges on four pillars — active engagement with students, positive relationships between teachers and students, extending the classroom to the outdoors and continuous refinement of this foundational philosophy.

Burke ensures her students are active learners by designing courses that involve exploration, collaboration and critical thinking. Through group discussions, problem-solving exercises, teamwork and interactive assessments, Burke encourages her students to collaborate, question assumptions and apply concepts in novel ways.

Building strong relationships in a class of 200 is no easy feat, but that doesn’t deter Burke. She believes students are more likely to be eager learners when they feel seen, heard and valued. Burke makes a point of getting to know her students by walking around the room, mingling with them, finding out their interests and how they like to learn. She also includes group activities and exercises, so students get to know each other, including a BioBuddy system that pairs students. Knowing how her students learn allows Burke to tailor her teaching methods to include making notes on the board, displaying specimens, having discussion groups, and showing videos or slide shows. She delivers animated lectures, illustrating biology content with real-world examples and stories, which serve as a touchstone to help students remember content. As a result, students experience a classroom where they are respected and encouraged, and their learning thrives.

Since the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is situated on Blackfoot territory, Burke incorporates outdoor learning in an attempt to address recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This approach creates opportunities for students to learn about the land, its history and its stories. She hopes this will build connections and ultimately foster understanding and stewardship.

Burke is also a lifelong learner. She regularly updates her knowledge as an educator through the Teaching Centre’s Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and brings innovations in course delivery, always intending to create the best possible student experience. Her enthusiasm for biology is evident, and students respond in kind to become eager and disciplined learners. She continually checks with students to determine if her strategies are working and refines her approach accordingly. As a result, her students adore and respect her for her imaginative teaching methods and rigorous assessments.

Engaging educator Dr. Marc Roussel earns 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award

trevor.kenney — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 20:04:55 +0000

A passionate teacher who works to ensure his students, regardless of their level, learn not just content but the skills they need to solve problems long after they’ve left university, Dr. Marc Roussel has been named the 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award winner.

Roussel, a professor of chemistry, is a dedicated and engaging teacher who combines extensive knowledge and understanding of his subject matter with innovative teaching methods, applications to real-world situations and the expectation of regular student participation — all because of his earnest desire to see students succeed. He will be presented with the Excellence in Teaching Award at Fall 2024 Convocation, Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 10 a.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Centre for Sport and Wellness.

Dr. Marc Roussel

Dr. Marc Roussel teaches with an earnest desire to see students succeed.

Following an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship at McGill ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, Roussel joined the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in 1995. A theoretical chemist, he has taught courses from first year to graduate school.

To provide students with the best possible resources for success, Roussel has written three textbooks, starting with a text for his second-year physical chemistry course. Roussel was also an early adopter of the “flipped classroom,” where students are expected to complete assigned readings before class so that class time can be spent working together on problems.

Roussel strongly believes in teaching students to use modern tools alongside instruction in the chemical sciences. This philosophy extends from teaching first- and second-year students advanced calculator use, all the way through to upper-level courses where computer-based problem solving is integrated throughout, enabling students to see how the theory learned in class applies in the real world.

He has found little things can make a big difference to a struggling student. Providing encouragement, saying yes to a reasonable request, including for his time, and looking for ways to make students’ lives easier are standard operating procedures for Roussel.

In his research lab, Roussel strives to provide mentorship that will prepare students for a variety of careers in the quantitative sciences. He uses a range of approaches to support student learning, including weekly meetings with each student, whether that student is an undergraduate taking an Independent Study or a PhD student, detailed written feedback at every opportunity, and a blog containing useful information on almost every stage of the student journey.

Roussel has been an excellent mentor not only for ULethbridge students but also for new faculty members and young people participating in science fairs. He was Head Judge of the Lethbridge Regional Science Fair from 2016 to 2020, Deputy National Judge-in-Chief at the Canada-Wide Science Fair from 2019 to 2023 and started a three-year term as National Judge-in-Chief this year.

Roussel has taken on several administrative positions in addition to his professorial duties, including being department Chair and more recently, Associate Dean in the School of Graduate Studies, where he supports graduate student learning through a variety of activities, notably by organizing discussion sessions for graduate supervisors where they can learn best practices from each other.

Throughout his career, Roussel has demonstrated a commitment to improving himself as a scientist and teacher and helping his colleagues and students do the same.

Art history and museum studies professor Dr. Devon Smither earns 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award

trevor.kenney — Fri, 19 May 2023 16:08:31 +0000

Known for being a risk-taker in the classroom, Dr. Devon Smither encourages her students to do the same. It has garnered her a reputation as an innovative and empowering educator as well as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award.

Smither is deeply committed to developing her teaching craft and creating learning environments that spark curiosity and enable critical confidence in her students, making her a leading figure on best practices in teaching at ULethbridge and beyond. Smither will be presented with the Excellence in Teaching Award at Spring 2023 Convocation Ceremony III, Friday, June 2, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. in the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness.

Dr. Devon Smither is deeply committed to developing her teaching craft and creating learning environments that spark curiosity.

Dr. Devon Smither

Associate dean and an associate professor of art history and museum studies in the Faculty of Fine Arts, Smither has made a point of developing her craft of teaching, integrating diverse and critical perspectives in her courses and encouraging students to grow and excel in their studies.

Completing her undergraduate degree at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta, Smither pursued her passion for art history during her master’s work at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia and while earning her doctorate at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Toronto.

At the heart of her teaching philosophy is a deep-seated desire to make complex curriculum material accessible, interesting and relevant to students’ everyday lives and future professional practices. With a drive to create innovative and engaging content in her courses, she strives to empower students with the tools they need to find success.

A nationally significant voice on best practices in teaching, Smither and a group of art historians created Open Art Histories (OAH) in 2019, a platform to support teaching excellence in the arts in Canada. Smither co-wrote the first Open Education Resource (OER) on Canadian and Indigenous art, CanadARThistories: Reimagining the Canadian Art Survey, broadening the history of art in Canada in relation to emerging conversations on decolonization, equity and inclusion and internationalization.

Always open to new concepts, Smither consistently seeks new ways to better her pedagogy. This past year, she implemented contract grading in her courses. A labour-based practice grounded in social justice, it emphasises a compassionate approach to equitable and fair grading and assesses students purely on the work they put into the class. Evaluations on the quality of assignments are separated from the calculation of the course grade, allowing students to be creative, try new concepts, make mistakes and learn from the process, rather than worry about grades in relation to the quality of their work. Smither has seen real success with this model, prompting many students to feel less anxiety in their studies and inspiring them to focus on learning in the classroom.

Smither works to provide opportunities for students to extend their learning outside of the classroom and develop relationships within their communities and beyond. Her mentorship and engagement with students are directly related to her passion for understanding art history and museum studies through a contemporary lens, one that is focused on the social, cultural and political impacts of art and curatorial practices.

Mathematics instructor Dr. Sean Fitzpatrick honoured with 2022 Excellence in Teaching Award

trevor.kenney — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 14:35:05 +0000

Renowned for understanding the student perspective and tailoring his teaching to minimize student anxiety and elevate understanding, Dr. Sean Fitzpatrick has been awarded the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s 2022 Excellence in Teaching Award.

Dr. Sean Fitzpatrick is regarded as one of the most popular instructors on campus.

Fitzpatrick is one of the most popular instructors on campus as he employs innovative techniques and uses open education resources to enhance his students’ understanding of complex mathematical concepts. He will be presented with the Excellence in Teaching Award at Fall 2022 Convocation, Saturday, October 15, 2022, 10 a.m. in the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness.

Dr. Sean Fitzpatrick

Dr. Sean Fitzpatrick doesn’t mind seeing his students fail. In fact, he encourages his students to take chances and push beyond their comfort zones, accepting that mistakes will happen — and that’s where the true learning begins.

An instructor in ULethbridge’s Department of Mathematics & Computer Science since 2014, Fitzpatrick is comfortable challenging long-held standards of assessment and emphasizing flexibility and availability, both for himself and course materials.

At the core of his teaching philosophy is that mathematics is learned through trying, failing and then learning from mistakes. He trusts his students want to learn, and whenever possible, will allow students to revise and reassess their work for credit — even on tests. The approach reinforces a class dynamic where he and his students learn and advance collectively.

Fitzpatrick is keenly aware of the student experience and has long been a champion of equity in education. Recognizing the cost of textbooks can be a prohibitive barrier for many students, he developed his own website, where he hosts or links to textbooks for 17 courses in mathematics and statistics. Some are available in HTML, which works on any device, have embedded videos, interactive graphics and homework exercises, and even code cells that let students execute live computer code to help with calculations. In addition, Fitzpatrick maintains a free online homework portal for all his classes — something which has been adopted by instructors throughout the department.

Accessibility is another hallmark of his teaching. Utilizing the Teaching Centre while a Teaching Fellow from 2018 to 2020, Fitzpatrick took advantage of the lightboard resource to create hundreds of professional-quality instructional videos and develop his own YouTube channel. Many new students struggle to make effective use of their textbooks, and by augmenting the books with video explanations, students digest ideas they are not used to seeing in print.

Dr. Sean Fitzpatrick earns Excellence in Teaching Award

trevor.kenney — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 17:27:35 +0000

Congratulations to Dr. Sean Fitzpatrick, an instructor in the Department of Mathematics & Computer Science, for being named winner of the 2022 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Excellence in Teaching Award.

Dr. Sean Fitzpatrick

Fitzpatrick came to ULethbridge in 2014 and over the course of the last eight years, has taught 14 different courses ranging from introductory to senior level and from algebra to calculus and specialized topics such as topology. He earned his bachelor’s in mathematics and physics at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Winnipeg, then earned a master's and PhD in mathematics at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Toronto.

Fitzpatrick will be honoured at the Fall 2022 Convocation ceremony.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ recognizes Findlay with 2021 Excellence in Teaching Award

trevor.kenney — Thu, 20 May 2021 20:07:06 +0000

Committed to providing her students with a positive, supportive learning environment, Dr. Susan Findlay of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry has been named the recipient of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s 2021 Excellence in Teaching Award.

Findlay is noted as a strong lecturer and inspiring leader within the department and was instrumental in getting course content online during the pandemic, becoming somewhat of a technical resource person for her colleagues in the process. She will be honoured at the uLethbridge Awards Night virtual celebration on Thursday, May 27, 2021.

Susan Findlay

Susan Findlay quickly became an integral part of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry after she was hired as an instructor in 2004. She is the lecture coordinator for both the first-year general chemistry and introductory organic chemistry courses, a role focused on providing an equitable and enjoyable experience for students in all sections.

She likens learning chemistry to learning a new language. Findlay first gives her students a basic vocabulary of concepts to help them avoid being overwhelmed by information. She helps them practice using these concepts so that, when new concepts and reactions are introduced, students see how they’re related to the basics they’ve already learned. Students then begin to see patterns and once they realize that most chemistry can be explained and predicted by a few simple rules, they gain confidence in their ability to deal with new problems on their own.

One of Findlay’s goals is to make learning chemistry fun and she accomplishes this through innovative teaching strategies. She designed a course in medicinal chemistry with two separate components connected by a central theme of pharmaceuticals. Part of the class time is devoted to lectures and discussions, and part is devoted to active problem solving where the class works as a group to predict reaction paths in drug design, taking turns in leadership roles.

Before joining the U of L, Findlay completed undergraduate work at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Guelph and obtained her doctoral degree in organic chemistry at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary.

UNews - Excellence in Teaching Award

Biology instructor, Jennifer Burke, named 2025 Excellence in Teaching Award winner

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