Department of English

Clockwise from top left: Cassandra Olsen, Paul Pritchard, Shay Chavoshian, Sam Sanchinel, Kat Furtado, Titilola Aiyegbusi and Qusai Hassan (supplied images)

Six teaching assistants (TAs) and one graduate course instructor (CI) have been recognized with 2024 Teaching Excellence Awards by the UUֱ��’s Teaching Assistants’ Training Program.

The TA Teaching Excellence, BIPOC TA Teaching Excellence and CI Teaching Excellence awards recognize the outstanding contributions of TAs and graduate student CIs who regularly support, inspire and challenge undergraduate students.

The recipients of the TA Teaching Excellence Awards are:

Shaghayegh (Shay) Chavoshian, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Cassandra Olsen, department of English, Faculty of Arts & Science
Sam Sanchinel, Women and Gender Studies Institute, Faculty of Arts & Science
Qusai Hassan, department of chemistry, Faculty of Arts & Science
Paul Pritchard, department of sociology, UUֱ�� Mississauga

In 2022, the Teaching Assistants’ Training Program introduced the BIPOC Teaching Excellence Award to recognize lived experiences of Black, Indigenous and racialized communities whose academic experiences have been impacted by systemic barriers, and to highlight their accomplishments and excellence in teaching practice. The winner of this award for 2024 is Titilola Aiyegbusi from the department of English in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

The recipient of the CI Teaching Excellence Award is Kat Furtado from the department of classics in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

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2022 Awards of Excellence recognize members of UUֱ�� community

lanthierj — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 17:28:56 +0000

2022 Awards of Excellence recognize members of UUֱ�� community

Community

lanthierj Thu, 04/07/2022 - 13:28

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Department of English

Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering

Division of People Strategy

Equity & Culture

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Dentistry

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Faculty of Law

Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

Office of the Vice-President and Provost

OISE

UUֱ�� Libraries

UUֱ�� Scarborough

landscape

The UUֱ�� has announced the winners of the 2022 Awards of Excellence, a prestigious program presented annually in collaboration with the UUֱ�� Alumni Association to recognize outstanding faculty, librarians, staff and students.

“This year's honourees represent the incredible breadth and depth of excellence found across our three campuses,” President Meric Gertler said in his address to the winners. “They are being recognized for their dedication to others and to our collective success, as well as for their own outstanding accomplishments.

“To our award winners, you are all doing great work. You make us proud and your example is an inspiration to all of us.”

This year’s winners are:

Faculty

Vivek Goel Faculty Citizenship Award

Professor Glen A. Jones, department of leadership, adult and higher education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Educations and Professor Robert M. Wright, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design

Ludwik and Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize – Influential Leader

Professor Andrea Most, department of English, Faculty of Arts & Science and Professor Ann Lopez, department of leadership, adult and higher education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

Carolyn Tuohy Impact on Public Policy Award

Professor Adalsteinn Brown, dean of Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Northrop Frye Faculty Award

Associate Professor Adam Hammond, department of English, Faculty of Arts & Science

Joan E. Foley Quality of Student Experience Award

Associate Professor Matthew Mackay, department of mechanical and industrial engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Librarians

President’s Excellence Award – Influential Excellence

Fabiano Takashi Rocha, metadata services, UUֱ�� Libraries

Staff

Jill Matus Excellence in Student Services Award

Shainiya Balachandran, Office of the Dean of Students, Victoria University, and Atifa F. Karim, Division of Student Life, St. George campus

Chancellor’s Leadership Award – Emerging Leader

Cherilyn Nobleza, Division of People Strategy, Equity & Culture

Chancellor’s Leadership Award – Distinguished Leader

Ariana Bradford, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

Chancellor’s Leadership Award – Influential Leader

Derek Newton, Innovations & Partnerships Office

President’s Excellence Award – Emerging Excellence

Natasha Christie-Holmes, Emerging and Pandemic Infections Consortium, Ayoob Ghalami, Office of Environmental Health & Safety and Steffen Reinhart, Office of Student Recruitment

President’s Excellence Award – Distinguished Excellence

Mary Choi, Faculty of Dentistry, Daniella Mallinick, Office of the Vice-Provost, Academic Programs and Kim McLean, Faculty of Arts & Science

President’s Excellence Award – Influential Excellence

Pierre Piché, department of financial services

Students

Ludwik and Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize – Emerging Leader

Brenaven Kugamoorthy, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Adel S. Sedra Distinguished Graduate Award

Florence Ashley, Joint Centre for Bioethics, Faculty of Law and Dalla Lana School of Public Health

John H. Moss Scholarship

Katherine Todd, UUֱ�� Scarborough

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Ian Williams named finalist for Hilary Weston Writer’s Trust Prize for Nonfiction

lanthierj — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 16:35:03 +0000

Ian Williams named finalist for Hilary Weston Writer’s Trust Prize for Nonfiction

Community

lanthierj Fri, 10/08/2021 - 12:35

Faculty

St. George

Faculty of Arts & Science

Department of English

Hilary Weston Writer's Trust Prize for Nonfiction

landscape

(Photo by Justin Morris)

Associate Professor Ian Williams of the department of English in the Faculty of Arts & Science has been named a finalist for the Hilary Weston Writer’s Trust Prize for Nonfiction.

Williams was recognized for his collection of essays, Disorientation: Being Black in the World, published by Penguin Random House. The UUֱ�� alumnus is one of five writers nominated for the $60,000 annual prize, including playwright and honorary degree recipient Tomson Highway.

It’s the latest in a series of honours for Williams, whose debut novel Reproduction won the 2019 Scotiabank Giller Prize. His poetry collection, Personals, was a finalist for the 2013 Griffin Poetry Prize.

In Disorientation, Williams shares his experience of being Black and his perspective on racism in Canada.

“I want to create a conversational space for us to talk about race in Canada in ways that are not punitive or didactic, but just open, transparent and sincere,” he says. “I’m not the race guru, I’m not the expert on Blackness. I just want to bring our racial experiences forward and have readers understand what we're doing to each other and what systemic things are doing to all of us.”

To achieve this, he felt nonfiction was the right choice.

“There are many ways I could talk about race. I can code it into a character, I can create hypothetical situations, create poetry. And I've done that. But just for a moment in my career, I wanted to pause with the imaginative and just deal with the real.”

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Kassia Neckles wins inaugural Lesra Martin Student Changemaker Award

lanthierj — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 20:13:43 +0000

Kassia Neckles wins inaugural Lesra Martin Student Changemaker Award

Academic Achievement

lanthierj Tue, 08/10/2021 - 16:13

Students

St. George

Department of Cinema Studies

Department of English

Faculty of Arts & Science

Innis College

Lesra Martin Student Changemaker Award

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Kassia Neckles, a fourth-year student majoring in cinema studies and English, has been named an inaugural recipient of the Lesra Martin Student Changemaker Award.

The award is presented to Innis College students who have worked to effect change for Black lives through creative and innovative scholarship or extra-curricular activity.

Neckles was recognized for her publications analyzing race, representation and portrayals of Blackness in film.

“It can be very easy for me to undermine my efforts and work as inconsequential, both as a single person in a world of billions and as a Black person in a world so rife with anti-Blackness,” she said.

“This award, in a sense, assures me that my efforts to support my community and inspire change are not entirely futile.”

The award was initiated by Martin, an alumnus of Innis College, who is known for his remarkable personal journey from poverty and illiteracy to a successful career as a lawyer.

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Alumna Souvankham Thammavongsa wins the Giller Prize

lanthierj — Fri, 27 Nov 2020 19:03:11 +0000

Alumna Souvankham Thammavongsa wins the Giller Prize

Community

lanthierj Fri, 11/27/2020 - 14:03

Alumni

St. George

Giller Prize

Faculty of Arts & Science

New College

Department of English

landscape

(Photo by Sarah Bodri)

UUֱ�� alumna Souvankham Thammavongsa is the winner of the 2020 Scotiabank Giller Prize for her short story collection, How to Pronounce Knife.

The book is on Time magazine’s list of 100 Must-Read Books of 2020 and was named one of the best books of spring 2020 by The New York Times, Salon, the Millions and Vogue. It’s the first short story collection for Thammavongsa, who earned her bachelor of arts from the Faculty of Arts & Science in 2003 as a member of New College. She is also the author of four books of poetry: the 2013 Trillium Book Award for Poetry winner, Light; Found; Cluster; and Small Arguments, the 2004 winner of the ReLit Award, which she wrote while an undergraduate student at UUֱ��.

In an interview with Arts & Science News, Thammavongsa talked about what it was like to major in English literature at UUֱ��.

“I went to the best school in the country, and that made me so confident,” Thammavongsa said. “I wanted to be a writer and I thought, why don’t I just write?

Read the UUֱ�� News story

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Twelve UUֱ�� faculty members appointed Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada

lanthierj — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 20:25:57 +0000

Twelve UUֱ�� faculty members appointed Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Tue, 09/08/2020 - 16:25

Faculty

St. George

Department of English

Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations

Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Medicine

OISE

Rotman School of Management

Royal Society of Canada

Women in STEM

landscape

The Royal Society of Canada has appointed 12 professors from across the UUֱ�� as Fellows of the society – a recognition awarded to the country’s most distinguished scholars, artists and scientists.

“The UUֱ�� congratulates the remarkable scholars and scientists receiving this honour,” said University Professor Ted Sargent, UUֱ��’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “This distinction is an important reflection of their leadership and their significant and substantial contributions of knowledge, understanding and insight to our society.”

The new Fellows are:

Cheryl Arrowsmith of the department of medical biophysics in the Faculty of Medicine and senior scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network
Joel Baum of the Rotman School of Management
Paul-Alain Beaulieu of the department of Near and Middle Eastern civilizations in the Faculty of Arts & Science
Karen Davis of the department of surgery in the Faculty of Medicine and senior scientist at the Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network
Diane Gérin-Lajoie of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Rama Khokha of the department of medical biophysics in the Faculty of Medicine and senior scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network
Askold Khovanski of the department of mathematics in the Faculty of Arts & Science
Leonid Livak of the department of Slavic languages and literatures in the Faculty of Arts & Science
Michelle Murphy of the department of history in the Faculty of Arts & Science
Marlene Scardamalia of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Ming-Sound Tsao of the department of laboratory medicine and pathobiology in the Faculty of Medicine and senior scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network
Karen Weisman of the department of English in the Faculty of Arts & Science

Granted a royal charter in 1883, the goal of the Royal Society of Canada is to enhance connections between the scholarly, artistic and scientific communities and the larger society in order to promote knowledge and understanding for the benefit of all.

The new Fellows join 384 members of the UUֱ�� community who currently hold the designation. They will be inducted at the 2020 Celebration of Excellence hosted by UUֱ�� Nov. 27.

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Jeremy Lopez receives President's Teaching Award

lanthierj — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 23:04:54 +0000

Jeremy Lopez receives President's Teaching Award

Teaching

lanthierj Thu, 06/04/2020 - 19:04

Faculty

St. George

President's Teaching Award

Department of English

Faculty of Arts & Science

landscape

Professor Jeremy Lopez of the Faculty of Arts & Science’s department of English has been awarded the President’s Teaching Award – the highest honour for teaching at the UUֱ��.

“This award is a great honour, not least because of how high the level of teaching is at UUֱ��,” Lopez said. “I feel lucky to have been supported by – and to have had the opportunity to learn from – so many other distinguished teachers since I joined the Faculty.”

A scholar of early modern literature,Renaissance literature, Shakespeare and drama, Lopez has taught a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses including large-lecture first-year courses, summer study abroad courses and graduate pedagogical training courses.

“The UUֱ�� prides itself on hiring faculty who bring cutting-edge research to their classes, while providing a learning experience that is both intellectually stimulating and immensely enjoyable,” said department chair Paul Stevens. “Jeremy Lopez is a model of the kind of charismatic teaching and brilliant scholarship that makes the UUֱ�� such a world-class institution.”

Read the Faculty of Arts & Science story about Lopez

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President's Teaching Award recognizes three exceptional faculty members

lanthierj — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 23:01:05 +0000

President's Teaching Award recognizes three exceptional faculty members

Teaching

lanthierj Thu, 06/04/2020 - 19:01

Faculty

St. George

Scarborough

President's Teaching Award

Faculty of Arts & Science

Department of English

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

UUֱ�� Scarborough

Department of Biological Sciences

landscape

From left: Micah Stickel, Jeremy Lopez and Aarthi Ashok

For their sustained excellence in teaching and significant contributions in educational leadership, three faculty members have been awarded the President’s Teaching Award – the highest honour for teaching at the UUֱ��.

“Excellence in teaching is central to the mission of this university – and this year's winners set an inspiring example with their dedication to students, creativity and innovation,” said UUֱ�� President Meric Gertler. “On behalf of the university, I congratulate them on their accomplishments and on receiving this important recognition.”

The winners are:

Aarthi Ashok of the department of biological sciences, UUֱ�� Scarborough
Jeremy Lopez of the department of English in the Faculty of Arts & Science
Micah Stickel of the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical & computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Winners of the President’s Teaching Award receive $10,000 per year for five years to be used towards professional development, and become members of the Teaching Academy. The academy meets regularly to discuss matters relevant to teaching and offers advice to the president and the vice-president and provost, as well as the director of the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation.

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Dana Seitler receives Ludwik and Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize

lanthierj — Thu, 07 May 2020 19:44:15 +0000

Dana Seitler receives Ludwik and Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize

Community

lanthierj Thu, 05/07/2020 - 15:44

Faculty

St. George

Awards of Excellence

Faculty of Arts & Science

Department of English

landscape

For her research, teaching and volunteerism in sexual diversity and inclusion, Professor Dana Seitler has received the Ludwik and Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize.

The honour is one of the Awards of Excellence presented by the UUֱ�� Alumni Association in collaboration with the university. The prestigious program dates back to 1921 and recognizes outstanding faculty, staff and students.

Over the course of her career, Seitler has built a reputation as a champion of human rights and inclusion. A professor of American literature in the department of English and director of the Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies, Seitler's research has a particular focus on marginalized communities and minority experience.

In awarding the honour to Seitler, the alumni association noted that she expanded the Bonham Centre’s commitment to advocacy for human rights, equity and anti-discrimination and transformed it into a thriving international hub for academic, artistic, community-based and activist work in trans, sexuality and queer life. Seitler also re-invigorated many initiatives at the centre: making the Sexual Representation Archive Collection more accessible to local and international researchers; promoting the Lynch History Grant to support community-based projects that mobilize knowledge about queer history to broad audiences and championing the Sexual Diversity Studies Fellows program and the Artist-in-Residence program.

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Audrey Walton recognized with John Charles Polanyi Prize in Literature

lanthierj — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 16:05:31 +0000

Audrey Walton recognized with John Charles Polanyi Prize in Literature

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Tue, 02/04/2020 - 11:05

Faculty

St. George

Faculty of Arts & Science

Department of English

John Charles Polanyi Prize

landscape

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Audrey Walton has received the John Charles Polanyi Prize in Literature for her scholarship on sacred language, literary cultures, vernacularity and world religions, with particular focus on the early medieval period in England.

An assistant professor of English who is also at the Centre for Medieval Studies, Walton received the prize for her research showing that medieval England produced a large body of literature in the vernacular as opposed to Latin.

“We are all immensely proud of Audrey,” said Professor Paul Stevens, chair of the department of English. “Audrey joins five other members of the department in winning this prestigious award – Angela Esterhammer, Andrea Most, Katie Larson, Andrea Charise and most recently Danny Wright. It’s an outstanding group, remarkable for the rigour, originality and diversity of their research. Audrey’s work on the complex constitution of Anglo-Saxon textual culture is a revelation.”

The award is named after John Polanyi, a UUֱ�� University Professor of chemistry and joint winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. At a reception to honour the winners, Polanyi talked about the significance of Walton’s research on the vernacular.

“With a new language came a new outlook,” Polanyi said. “They spoke to God as if he were one of them.”

Read the UUֱ�� News story

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