News

Dr. Craig Lake, a professor in the Department of Civil and Resource Engineering, has been named this year’s recipient of the Sexton Award for Teaching Excellence.

The Sexton Award recognizes educators in the Faculty of Engineering who demonstrate exceptional dedication through innovation, leadership, and a student-first approach, all qualities that perfectly reflect Dr. Lake’s remarkable contributions.

A Classroom Leader Since 2002

Since joining the Faculty in 2002, Dr. Lake has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to student success and innovation in the classroom. Known for his engaging, approachable, and student-focused teaching style, Dr. Lake has become a favourite among engineering students.

In addition to his excellence in teaching, Dr. Lake’s research in geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering has garnered prestigious awards from the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering and the Engineering Institute of Canada, where he is recognized as a Fellow.

Over the years, Dr. Lake’s courses have consistently received some of the highest teaching evaluation scores within the Department of Civil and Resource Engineering. Students often praise his clear, well-organized lectures notes, practical teaching style, and his ability to create a welcoming classroom environment where everyone feels encouraged to participate. In a class of over 100 students, Dr. Lake always makes it a priority to learn each student’s name.

“I enjoy getting to know as much about the students as I can in a class,” he says. “Knowing their name is a great way to create a connection with students and provide them some motivation for learning”

During COVID, Dr. Lake was among the first at Dalhousie to introduce the “flipped classroom” teaching model which replaces traditional lectures with interactive, student-centered learning. This approach not only empowers students to take charge of their learning but also fosters collaboration and deeper engagement. Since shifting to the new approach, feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many students crediting the teaching style for sparking their passion for civil and environmental engineering.

Faculty Leadership

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Lake has made a big impact on engineering education at Dalhousie. He played a key role in the redesign of the civil and environmental engineering curriculum, ensuring it remained modern, relevant, and aligned with the needs of today’s students and industry. He is also a trusted mentor to fellow faculty members, supporting them in refining their teaching practices and embracing new innovative approaches.

In addition, his contributions to the DLITE (Dalhousie Learning and Teaching Enhancement) project, along with his ongoing involvement with Dal’s Centre for Learning and Teaching (CLT), truly showcase his commitment to evolving and improving engineering education.

“I enjoy learning about teaching approaches through my own reading and research as well as hearing from others experience through the CLT,” he says.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Craig Lake on this well-deserved recognition.

Student Testimonials

“Through all my experiences with Dr. Lake, he has always gone above and beyond to put the needs of his students first.”

“The hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm that Dr. Lake brings to the classroom every day... I am certain has inspired thousands of students, myself included, to pursue a career in civil engineering.”

“On top of his excellent teaching skills, Dr. Lake has proven to be a great mentor and support for students anytime we needed help working towards our future goals.”