I am delighted to announce the recipients of the 2015-16 University of Toronto Early Career Teaching Award and the 2016-17 University of Toronto Teaching Fellowship. In addition to congratulating this year’s recipients, I would like to thank the nominators for their work in preparing submissions. I would also like to thank the members of the selection committee for their dedication to recognizing excellence in teaching at the University of Toronto.

University of Toronto Early Career Teaching Award: 2015-16

This award recognizes faculty members who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to student learning, pedagogical engagement and teaching innovation. Up to four awards of $3,000 are offered annually.

2015-16 Recipients:

• Christian Caron, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream; Department of Sociology,
  Faculty of Arts & Science
• Alen Hadzovic, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream; Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, UTSC
• Anthony Niblett, Assistant Professor; Faculty of Law

Christian Caron
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream
Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts & Science

Professor Christian Caron joined the University of Toronto in 2013 after receiving his Ph.D. in Sociology from Carleton University. Professor Caron has taught a remarkable range of courses in the Department of Sociology, from fifteen students to 1,500 students in his Introduction to Sociology class in Convocation Hall. The committee was particularly impressed by the multiple pedagogical methods he employs in his teaching to engage students in learning and foster collaborative learning environments. Since being named Associate Chair in 2015, Professor Caron has demonstrated leadership and continues to share his passion for teaching with his colleagues and students. His nominators and supporters noted the positive impact on Department culture, as Professor Caron works diligently to encourage others to develop their own teaching portfolios.

Alen Hadzovic
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream
Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough

Professor Alen Hadzovic received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Toronto in 2007, and completed his Postdoctoral Fellowship here in 2009. He devoted the next three years to teaching undergraduate courses at both the St. George and Scarborough campuses before joining the Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences at UTSC in 2011. Professor Hadzovic is known for his commitment to teaching excellence and innovation in curriculum and course delivery. He has been praised for embracing a critically reflective teaching practice, which he refers to as a synthetic approach to teaching grounded in his background in Chemistry. He received the University of Toronto’s 2014 ‘Instructional Technology Innovation Award’ in support of Technical Art History Workshops, which are intended to create a community for students in Art History and Chemistry supporting extracurricular learning and cross-disciplinary education. The committee was especially impressed that Professor Hadzovic has delivered an astounding eleven courses while simultaneously integrating new teaching innovations.

Anthony Niblett
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Law

Professor Anthony Niblett, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Law, Economics and Innovation, is known for his engaging teaching style inside and outside of the classroom. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University as well as first class honours degrees in both Law and Commerce from the University of Melbourne. Since joining the University of Toronto in 2011, Professor Niblett has been actively engaged in curricular reform and course development. Dean Iacobucci comments that, “Professor Niblett’s success is undisputable…his courses have never failed to be top ranked.” Professor Niblett’s nomination package shows him to be passionate about teaching, committed to student learning, a promoter of student-faculty interactions, and genuinely caring about his students and their academic success. The selection committee was impressed by his record and regard him as a model of teaching excellence for his Faculty and the University community.

University of Toronto Teaching Fellowship: 2016-17

This is the second year of a two-year pilot program. The Fellowships are designed to develop and cultivate leadership and mentoring skills, and encourage capacity-building to support teaching effectiveness, innovation and research. Fellows engage in a pedagogical project in an institutional priority area. In addition to funding for teaching release, recipients receive a $2,500 grant or stipend to support their activities during this year.

2016-17 Recipient:

Teresa Kramarz
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream
Munk School of Global Affairs, Faculty of Arts & Science

Professor Teresa Kramarz is Director of the ‘Munk One Foundation Program’ on Global Innovation, and previously held the position of Associate Director of the Master of Global Affairs. She joined the University of Toronto in 2012 after receiving her PhD in Political Science. Professor Kramarz is commended for being a leader in teaching innovation and pedagogical creativity. Her nominators credit her with, “truly transforming the student experience at both the undergraduate and graduate levels” since joining the Munk School in 2013. She won the ‘Dean’s Excellence in Teaching Award’ in 2012 and 2013. Her research focuses on global environmental governance, international organizations, and public-private partnerships. The selection committee was intrigued by her proposal for creating global classrooms, stating that this notion embodies the spirit of the Teaching Fellowship. They were also impressed by how her proposal aligns with the President’s three priorities: leveraging the U of T’s location, strengthening international partnerships, and rethinking undergraduate education.

Please visit the Provost’s website for more information on the Early Career Teaching Award and the Teaching Fellowships.