Distinguished Professor Awards

Open to Faculty and Veterinarians, these awards recognize excellent contribution toward teaching and learning, broadly defined. 

  • Distinguished Professor Awards for Excellence in Teaching: up to seven awarded, one for each College. 
  • Distinguished Professor Awards for Innovation in Teaching: up to two awarded across the University. 

Each recipient will be presented with a plaque and a monetary award of $500.00. 

Eligibility and criteria

An individual who is a member of the UGFA at the date of nomination is eligible for the award. A Member may receive each Award only once. 

Nominated individuals shall have demonstrated excellent performance in any of the following areas of teaching: 

  • Classroom instruction, including lecturing, small-group teaching, and laboratory instruction
  • Consultation with students outside of class, including individual tutoring and advising
  • Thesis supervision
  • Course design
  • Curriculum development
  • Production of educational materials, including textbooks, films, and study guidelines
  • Development of programs to improve teaching or research on university teaching
  • Development of innovative teaching methods
  • Educational planning and policy making regarding teaching 

While there are no fixed criteria for selecting award winners, preference is normally given to nominees who  

  • Have been successful in several areas of teaching
  • Have the support of more than one constituency
  • Are judged to be “truly excellent” rather than merely “very good”
  • Appear to have had an effect upon student learning or cognitive development, rather than merely being popular with students or colleagues  

Nominations 

Nominations may be made by students or faculty at the University of Guelph. Nominations must clearly indicate: 

  1. Name of the nominee
  2. College and Department of the nominee
  3. Type of award (excellence in teaching or excellence in innovation)
  4. Documentation to support the nominations (see below)
  5. Name and phone number of the nominator

Closing date for Nominations: April 5

Closing date for Supporting Material: April 19

To facilitate the deliberations of the Awards Committee, each nomination package should include the following:

  1. Table of contents
  2. Signed Nominee Acceptance Form
  3. Tabs to separate and identify the various sections of the package
  4. Signed nominator’s letter. This letter summarizes the highlights of the nomination package, with special focus on areas of excellence in teaching as described under “Eligibility and criteria” above. This letter should represent the core of the case and offer a picture of where and with what priority the supporting documents fit in. Documents seldom speak for themselves; they are invariably more useful when summarized, abstracted, and explained by someone on the scene and familiar with the nominee.
  5. Teaching CV and Statement of Teaching Philosophy, provided by the nominee
  6. Letters of support from more than one constituency. The strongest letters address specific areas of excellence and the impact of the nominee. Letters must be current and prepared specifically for the UGFA Award nomination.
  7. With the permission of the nominee, course evaluation score summaries and the evaluation questionnaire. Raw data is less compelling. 

NOTE: The Awards Committee has discretion to grant a Special Merit Teaching Award to a nominee for any of the regular teaching awards. The reasoning behind such a decision will be communicated to the nominator and at the awards reception. 

Past winners

2023 Distinguished Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching:

  • John Walsh, College of Arts 
  • Stephen Seah, College of Biological Sciences 
  • Abdallah Elsayed, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences 
  • Yuanfang Lin, Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics 
  • Kelsey Spence, Ontario Veterinary College 

2023 Distinguished Professor Award for Innovation in Teaching:

  • Michael Massa, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences 

2022 Distinguished Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching:

  • Alan Gordon, College of Arts
  • Alexander Smith, College of Biological Science
  • Ryan Clemmer, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
  • Youbin Zheng, Ontario Agricultural College
  • Saara Liinamaa, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences

2022 Distinguished Professor Award for Innovation in Teaching:

  • John Donald, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

2021 Distinguished Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching:

  • Nagham Mohammed, School of Engineering & Physical Sciences
  • Wendy Pearson, Ontario Agriculture College
  • Laura Favetta, Ontario Veterinary College

2021 Distinguished Professor Award for Innovation in Teaching:

  • Susannah Ferreira, College of Arts

2020 Distinguished Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching:

  • Amanda Boetzkes, College of Arts
  • Petros Spachos, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
  • David Pearl, Ontario Veterinary College

2020 Distinguished Professor Award for Innovation in Teaching:

  • Andrea Bradford, College of Engineering and Physical Science
  • Tricia Van Rhijn, College of Social and Applied Human Science

2019 Distinguished Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching:

  • Christina Smylitopolous, College of Arts
  • William Bettger, College of Biological Science
  • Andrew Gadsden, College of Engineering & Physical Science
  • Kathleen Rodenburg, Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics
  • Andria Jones-Bitton, Ontario Veterinary College
  • Peter Sikkema, Ontario Agricultural College

2019 Distinguished Professor Award for Innovation in Teaching:

  • Glen Pyle, Ontario Veterinary College

2018 Distinguished Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching:

  • Leanne Foti, College of Business & Economics
  • Gary Grewal, College of Physical and Engineering Sciences

2018 Distinguished Professor Award for Innovation in Teaching:

  • Bruce McAdams, College of Business & Economics

2017 Distinguished Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching:

  • Padraig O’Cleirigh, College of Arts
  • Steffen Graether, College of Biological Science
  • Asha Sadanand, College of Business & Economics
  • Mervyn Horgan, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences
  • Alan Sullivan, Ontario Agricultural College
  • Lisa Robertson, Ontario Veterinary College

2017 Distinguished Professor Award for Innovation in Teaching:

  • Andria Jones-Bitton, Ontario Veterinary College

2016 Distinguished Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching:

  • Stefan Lindquist, College of Arts
  • Krassimir Yankulov, College of Biological Science
  • Sandra Scott, College of Business & Economics
  • Julie Vale, College of Physical & Engineering Science
  • Vivian Shalla, College of Social & Applied Human Sciences

2016 Distinguished Professor Award for Innovation in Teaching:

  • Matthew Demers, College of Physical & Engineering Science
  • Kimberly Levere, College of Physical & Engineering Science

2015 Distinguished Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching:

  • Karen Racine, College of Arts
  • Shoshannah Jacobs, College of Biological Science
  • Tanya Mark, College of Business & Economics
  • Dan Gillis, College of Physical & Engineering Science
  • David Walters, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences
  • Vern Osborne, Ontario Agricultural College

2014 Distinguished Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching:

  • Margot Irvine, College of Arts
  • Marc Coppolino, College of Biological Science
  • Martin Williams, College of Physical & Engineering Science

2014 Distinguished Professor Award for Innovation in Teaching:

  • Mavis Morton, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences

2013 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • Andrew Sherwood, College of Arts
  • Elizabeth Kurucz, College of Management and Economics
  • Jeremy Balka, College of Physical and Engineering Science
  • Dan Meegan, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences
  • Gregoy Bedecarrats, Ontario Agricultural College
  • Pavneesh Madan, Ontario Veterinary College

2012 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • Jay Lampert, College of Arts
  • John Dawson, College of Biological Science
  • Evie Adomait, College of Management and Economics
  • Jack Trevors, Ontario Agricultural College
  • Brad Hanna, Ontario Veterinary College

2011 Distinguished Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching:

  • Stephen Powell, College of Arts
  • Joe Barth, College of Management and Economics
  • Jeremy Paul McNicholas, College of Physical and Engineering Science

2011 Special Merit Award:

  • Jacqueline Murray, College of Arts
  • Steve Gismondi, College of Physical and Engineering Science

2010 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • John Russon, College of Arts
  • James Kirkland, College of Biological Science
  • Michael Hoy, College of Management and Economics
  • Karen Gordon, College of Physical and Engineering Science
  • Ian Spears, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences
  • Sean Kelly, Ontario Agricultural College
  • Robert Foster, Ontario Veterinary College

2010 Special Merit Award:

  • Denise Mohan, College of Arts

2009 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • Andrew Bailey, College of Arts
  • Jamie Gruman, College of Management and Economics

2009 Special Merit Award:

  • Joanne O’Meara, College of Physical and Engineering Science

2008 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • T. Ryan Gregory, College of Biological Science
  • Elliott Currie, College of Management and Economics
  • Shawki Areibi, College of Physical and Engineering Science
  • Hans Bakker, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences
  • Massimo Marcone, Ontario Agricultural College

2008 Special Merit Award:

  • Lori Jones, College of Physical and Engineering Science

2007 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • Dawn Cornelio, College of Arts
  • William Tam – CPES
  • Joan Flaherty, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences
  • Andrew Peregrine -OVC
  • Karen Landman – OAC

2007 Special Merit Award:

  • Linda Mahood – COA
  • John Walton – OAC

2006 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • Ruediger Mueller – COA
  • Cecilia Paine – OAC
  • S. Wayne Martin – OVC

2006 Special Merit Award:

  • John Dawson – CBS

2005 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • Gordon Hayward – CPES
  • Tina Widowski – OAC
  • Stephen Lynch – CSAHS
  • Bill Cormack – CPES
  • Pal Fischer – CPES

2005 Special Merit Award:

  • Jim Brett – Library

2004 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • Maurice Nelischer – OAC
  • John Baird – OVC
  • Dorothy Odartey-Wellington – Arts
  • Gerarda Darlington – CPES
  • James Pickworth – CSAHS
  • Joseph Lam – CBS

2004 Special Merit Award:

  • Robert Keates – CBS

2003 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • Herb Kunze – CPES
  • Michael Wirth – CPES
  • Steve Kruth – OVC
  • Coral Murrant – CBS
  • Elizabeth Ewan – Arts
  • Wayne Caldwell – OAC

2002 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • Larry Peterson – CBS
  • Ian Barker – OVC
  • Richard Moccia – OAC
  • Ken Dorter – COA
  • Doug Joy – CPES
  • Frances Sharom – CPES

2002 Special Merit Award:

  • John Holt – CPES
  • Anthony Hayes – OVC

2001 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • Peter Goddard – Arts
  • Pat Wright – CBS
  • John Holbrook – CPES
  • Rick Upfold- OAC
  • Bill Nickling – CSAHS

2001 Special Merit Award:

  • Jim Mottin – CSAHS
  • William Smith – CPES

2000 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • S. Scadding – CBS
  • K. Fisher – CBS
  • G. Adams – OVC
  • D. O’Quinn – COA

2000 Special Merit Award:

  • N. Gibbins – CBS

1999 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • Serge Desmarais – CSAHS
  • Nate Perkins – OAC
  • David Murray – Arts
  • Mark Baker – CPES

1999 Special Merit Award:

  • Susan Brown – Arts

1998 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • Daniel Fischlin – Arts
  • Eric Poisson – CPES
  • Jorge Nef – CSAHS
  • Stan Blecher – CBS

1997 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • Donna Pennee – Arts
  • Jean Turner – FACS
  • Fred Evers – CSS – Centre for Scottish Studies
  • Alan King – OVC
  • Nick Westwood – CBS

1997 Special Merit Award:

  • Sharon Taylor – Library
  • Margaret Priest – Arts

1996 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • Alan Filewod – Arts
  • Kathleen Brophy – FACS – Family and Consumer Studies
  • Francis Tapon – CSS
  • Roselynn Stevenson – CBS

1996 Special Merit Award:

  • Dana Paramskas, College of Arts

1995 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • Kenneth Graham – Arts
  • Janet Wood – CBS
  • Ellen Goddard – OAC
  • Barry Smit – CSS

1994 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • T.E. Michaels – OAC
  • Catherine Wilson – Arts
  • Steven Cronshaw – CSS
  • Robert Keats – CPES
  • Phillip Sweeny – CBS

1994 Special Merit Award:

  • Ron Hinch – CSS
  • F. Ross Hallet – CPES

1993 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • Jim Pickworth, FACS
  • Allan Colter – CPES
  • Ward Chesworth – OAC
  • Eleanora Cebotarev – CSS
  • Gilbert Stelter – Arts
  • Brian Derbyshire – OVC

1993 Special Merit Award:

  • Tom Hulland – OVC

1992 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • Jack Weiner – CPES
  • Ann Wilcock – FACS
  • Diana Brydon – Arts
  • Wayne Pfeiffer – OAC

1992 Special Merit Award:

  • Helier J. Robinson – Arts
  • Frances Sharom – CPES

1991 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • W.D. Woodward – CBS
  • Claude Guldner – FACS
  • Robert Chapman – CPES
  • David prescott – CSS
  • Alastair Summerlee – OVC

1991 Special Merit Award:

  • Nigel Bunce – CPES

1990 Distinguished Professor Award:

  • Ron Brooks – CBS
  • Edward Carter – CPES
  • Renate Benson – Arts
  • Andrew Winston – CBS
  • Kathleen Brophy – FACS

1990 Special Merit Award:

  • Frans Schryer – CSS

1998 Special Merit Award:

  • Tom Wilson _ CPES
  • Jan Jofriet – CPES

1998 College Award:

  •  Robert Liptrap – OVC
  • William Graf – CSS
  • Jake Barclay – CBS
  • Victor Matthews – Arts
  • François Pare – Arts
  • George Renninger – CPES
  • Jim Shute – OAC
  • Judith Myer Avis – FACS

1988 College Award:

  •  B. Wilcocks – OVC
  • J. Atkinson – OAC
  • S. Corey – CBS
  • B. Woodrow – CSS
  • J.J. Hubert – CSS

1987 University Award:

  • B. MacNeil

1987 College Award:

  •  J. Bligh
  • P.K. Basrur – OVC
  • R.L. Thomas – OAC
  • J. Mokanski – CPES
  • J. Nef – CSS

1986 University Award:

  • J. Amstutz – CPES

1986 Special Merit Award:

  • E. McFarland – CPES

1986 College Award:

  • J. Amstutz – CPES
  • W. Rauser – CPES
  • J. Cunsolo – CPES

1985 University Award:

  • T. J. Gillespie

1985 Special Merit Award:

  • G. Boehnert
  • H. Wiesman
  • J. Bruce

1984 University Award:

  •  Ron Subden

1984 Special Merit Award:

  •  John Powell

1984 College Award:

  •  Jack Madden
  • Isabel Alvarez
  • John Auld
  • Bob Curtis