Sharing the love

Words of praise were extended in both directions at this year’s Dalhousie Student Union Awards for Teaching Excellence.

In theory, the awards recognize the powerful role that Dalhousie’s best professors play in the lives of their students. In practice, though, the March 11 ceremony was a far more reciprocal affair. As students from all 11 Dalhousie faculties took the stage to introduce their nominated professors and share their inspiring stories, the professors responded in kind with admiration for the students that inspire them in return.

“The great thing about these awards is that the students recognize that the role of education is for us to bring out the best in each other,” said Terrance Galvin, director of the School of Architecture and a recipient of one of this year’s flame-shaped glass awards. “These awards are about ideas of university learning in a much broader sense, being committed to total learning within the whole person.”

Recipients of the 2008 DSU Awards for Teaching Excellence Architecture and Planning Terrance Galvin Arts and Social Sciences Matthew Mitchell Cristina Rafales Computer Science Nauzer Kalyaniwalla Dentistry Bruce Wright Engineering John Hill Graduate Studies David Byers Health Professions Charlotte Loppie Law Aldo Chircop Management Carolan McLarney Medicine William Baldridge Science Jennifer Stamp

Prof. Galvin represents one of the evening’s most powerful themes – that learning doesn’t cease at the end of a lecture. He’s made the world his classroom by organizing student and staff trips to some of Europe’s architectural marvels in cities such as Rome and Venice. These adventures aren’t course requirements, but represent a unique learning opportunity that dozens of architecture students have taken advantage of.

Carolan McLarney, from the Faculty of Management, was recognized for her willingness to instill integrity in her students and inspire them to become ethical business leaders.

“I’m so humbled by the members of our study body who spoke about the impact that their profs have had,” she said, reflecting on the awards ceremony. “What the students teach me is how to listen. The whole point of the university exercise is to create an interactive learning environment. The only way that you move thought forward is by listening to what students have to say.”

That line – “moving thought forward” – stood out among the evening’s comments and was echoed by psychology professor Jennifer Stamp. In accepting her award, Dr. Stamp noted  “I think our students are doing a fantastic job in moving thought forward! Sometimes, they even throw it around and slap me in the face with it!”

William Baldridge from the Department of Anatomy gave the crowd a good laugh explaining his roles as Obi Wan Kenobi and Vincent Price in the medical students’ Euphoria show. Geology professor John Hill received a standing ovation from a small army of his students who braved the cold night to attend the ceremony. And the Faculty of Health Professions’ Charlotte Loppie and Dentistry’s Bruce Wright were singled out for, among other accomplishments, their ability to inspire thought-provoking discussion even when their classes start bright and early in the morning.

This is the third year running for the awards, which are nominated by students and chosen by DSU Academic and External Committee. “I think it’s really important that these awards are coming from students because it puts the focus on teaching,” said Tara Gault, DSU Vice President Education. “Dalhousie is often recognized as a research-intensive university, but these professors prove that we have great strengths in teaching as well. It’s really wonderful to be able to recognize professors who reach out and engage students in the core experience of university.”

But perhaps the best evidence of the evening’s impact was also one of the most succinct, and came from Dentistry’s Dr. Wright:

“In the 28 years I’ve been associated with the Faculty of Dentistry, this is the highlight. Thank you.”