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Dean's Teaching Award – Faculty (TFA) Recipients

The Deans’ Teaching Award – Faculty recognizes TMU faculty members (TFA) who have demonstrated continuing teaching excellence and achievement in instruction. The awards will be distributed according to the Faculty of the nominee: Faculty of Arts, The Creative School, Faculty of Community Services, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Science, and the Ted Rogers School of Management.

Award recipient(s) will receive a certificate of recognition and a monetary award of $2,000 as a one-time payment (subject to applicable deductions). 

2024 recipients

Edward Bechard-Torres

incoln Alexander School of Law

Since joining the Lincoln Alexander School of Law in 2022, Professor Ed Bechard-Torres has already made an oversized impact, especially when it comes to the Business Law and Practice course that is a foundational element of our JD program. His approach to the course offers students a rich introduction to the political and social dimensions of business law. His integration of innovative pedagogical elements, including case studies, current controversies, and fact patterns, greatly enhances student learning, with students reporting that his teaching is "empowering", and Professor Bechard-Torres being "extremely thoughtful", as well as "caring, patient, and motivational" as an instructor.

Priscilla Boakye

Faculty of Community Services

Dr. Priscilla Boakye is an exceptional educator. She stands as a beacon of teaching excellence, committed to student inclusion, equity, diversity, and innovative scholarship. Dr. Boakye's transformative impact is seen in her dedication to addressing anti-black racism in healthcare, both in her teaching and research. Her culturally responsive pedagogy empowers students to be scholars and advocates, while her educational approach promotes racial equity awareness and consciousness raising. Students laud her caring and compassionate approach, fostering a deep sense of belonging. Her unwavering commitment to excellence in nursing education makes her an exemplary role model, deserving of this prestigious award.

Naima Cherchem

Ted Rogers School of Management

In recognition of her contribution to graduate education at TRSM, Dr. Cherchem, cultivates a vibrant classroom ecosystem where intellectual curiosity flourishes, boundaries dissolve, and innovative thinking and acting converge. In addition to innovatively revamping the strategy course that embraces industry trends and challenges, she actively contributes to the Assurance of Learning assessment for the AACSB accreditation program and the Corporate Knights assessment for sustainability that propelled our esteemed MBA program to new heights rankings. For her visionary leadership in shaping the minds of future leaders for a modern and sustainable society, we honor Dr. Cherchem with the Dean's Teaching Award.

Ellen Choi

Ted Rogers School of Management

Ellen demonstrates a deep commitment to creating a safe and fun learning environment that engages her students. She applies innovative techniques to her curricular design by integrating experiential learning activities and teaching methods that require movement, interaction, and peer-to-peer dialogue through experiences like cold plunge workshops, team fundraising and event management, and rejection exercises. In addition to teaching relevant OB theories and concepts, Ellen values developing the students themselves and encouraging voice. Her students routinely express how transformative they find her classes and her ability to help them feel like they can be more themselves.

Rania Hamza

Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science

Dr. Hamza, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at TMU, harmonizes 15 years of educational expertise with modern blended and mastery learning techniques in engineering education. Emphasizing hands-on learning intertwined with solid theory, she shapes graduates poised for academic excellence and industry readiness. At the core of her teaching lies experimentation, offering interactive, personalized instruction, while focusing on employability and holistic student development. A staunch advocate for environmental sustainability and a champion of EDI, her dedication shines through her numerous pedagogical awards. With her unwavering passion and modernized methodologies, Dr. Hamza emerges as a strong nominee for the Dean's Teaching Award.

Karen Milligan

Faculty of Arts

Dr. Milligan's outstanding leadership in advancing the child clinical aspects of graduate student training is commendable. She spearheaded the development of a specialized clinical training program in collaboration with St. Michael's Hospital, enabling students to conduct complex psychoeducational assessments. Her proactive approach addresses the specific training requirements of students in child clinical training, ensuring their competitiveness for prestigious internships and careers. Dr. Milligan goes above and beyond, offering invaluable hands-on supervision that demands a substantial time commitment, all while managing her regular teaching, research, and service responsibilities. Her unwavering dedication to student training is widely acknowledged among colleagues and trainees.

Saber Moradi

Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science

A dedicated and passionate professor, Dr. Saber Moradi has demonstrated an excellent ability to help, engage, and inspire students inside and outside the classroom. In his teaching, he effectively uses innovative teaching methods to attract students' interest in Structural Engineering -- going beyond the course syllabus. His colleagues and students have praised him for his outstanding teaching in large and small classes. At the national level, he is actively serving on the Student Affairs Committee with the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering. His leadership, commitment, and passion for teaching will undoubtedly benefit our students' learning and future careers.

Petra Roberts

Faculty of Community Services

Dr. Petra Roberts is a highly deserving nominee for the Dean's Teaching Award. As an assistant professor in the School of Child and Youth Care, she has consistently demonstrated an exceptional commitment to teaching excellence. Dr. Roberts has made substantial contributions to curriculum development, equity-focused teaching, and innovative pedagogy, impacting both undergraduate and graduate students. Her dedication to fostering a sense of community within her classrooms, even in challenging circumstances like the pandemic, is particularly noteworthy. Dr. Roberts' commitment to mentorship and her role in international teaching initiatives further underscore her exceptional teaching leadership.

Karen Sebesta

The Creative School

Karen Sebesta is a true legend. She broke all the glass ceilings and is one of the only women to rise to the upper echelon of Sports producing in Canada. She brings this long and storied career to TMU now as a faculty member. Within a few short months of starting as an Assistant Professor, she was vaulted into the role of Program Director and breathing new life into the Media Production program. She is an invaluable role model as one of the only women teaching production courses and also leading the flagship program for the RTA School of Media.

Past recipients

  • Michael Baumtrog
    School of Business Management, Ted Rogers School of Management
  • Eliza Chandler
    School of Disability Studies, Faculty of Community Services
  • David Colangelo
    School of Professional Communication, The Creative School
  • Reem El Asaleh
    School of Graphic Communications Management, The Creative School
  • Faezeh Ensan
    Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
  • Nariman Farsad
    Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science
  • Jessica Jeong
    Faculty of Arts Department of Psychology
  • Lauren Munro
    School of Disability Studies, Faculty of Community Services
  • Charlene Nicholls-Nixon
    School of Business Management, Ted Rogers School of Management
  • Daniel Rubenson
    Department of Politics & Public Administration, Faculty of Arts
  • Kinga Anna Zawada
    Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Faculty of Arts
  • Marc Adler
    Department of Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Science
  • Ian Baitz
    School of Graphic Communications Management, The Creative School
  • Nicole Bennett
    Midwifery Education Program, Faculty of Community Services
  • Steve Daniels
    RTA School of Media, The Creative School
  • Angela Lee
    Lincoln Alexander School of Law
  • Funke Oba
    School of Social Work, Faculty of Community Services
  • Oliver Okafor
    School of Accounting and Finance, Department of Accounting, Ted Rogers School of Management
  • Janice Rudkowski
    School of Retail Management, Ted Rogers School of Management
  • Khaled Sennah
    Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Architectural Science
  • Dafna Sussman
    Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Architectural Science
  • Richard Adams
    School of Graphic Communications Management, Faculty of Communication and Design
  • Shana Almeida
    School of Professional Communication, Faculty of Communication and Design
  • Linying Dong
    School of Information Technology Management, Ted Rogers School of Management
  • David Gauntlett
    School of Creative Industries, Faculty of Communication and Design
  • Sonya Graci
    School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Ted Rogers School of Management
  • Vincent Hui
    Department of Architectural Science, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
  • Treisha Hylton
    School of Child and Youth Care, Faculty of Community Services
  • Saber Moradi
    Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
  • Tracey Raney
    Department of Politics and Public Administration, Faculty of Arts
  • Fatih Sekercioglu
    School of Occupational and Public Health, Faculty of Community Services
  • Kathleen Wilkie
    Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science
  • Constantine Angyridis
    Department of Economics, Faculty of Arts
  • Marty Fink
    School of Professional Communication, Faculty of Communication and Design
  • Johanne Jean-Pierre
    School of Child and Youth Care, Faculty of Community Services
  • Karen Peesker
    School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Ted Rogers School of Management
  • Frank Russo
    Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts
  • Greggory Todd Springer
    Department of Physics, Faculty of Science
  • Vicki St. Denys
    School of Performance, Faculty of Communication and Design
  • Kimberly Varma
    Department of Criminology, Faculty of Arts
  • Sean Wise
    Entrepreneur & Strategy, Ted Rogers School of Management
  • Lydia Chen
    Department of Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Science
  • Marianella Collette
    Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Faculty of Arts
  • Andrew D. Furman
    School of Interior Design, Faculty of Communication and Design
  • Tom Griffin
    School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Ted Rogers School of Management
  • Julian Hasford
    School of Child and Youth Care, Faculty of Community Services
  • Farrokh Janabi-Sharifi
    Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
  • Raffi Karshafian
    Department of Physics, Faculty of Science
  • Laleh Samarbakhsh
    School of Accounting and Finance, Ted Rogers School of Management
  • Brennan Thompson
    Department of Economics, Faculty of Arts
  • Eva Woyzbun
    School of Professional Communication, Faculty of Communication and Design
  • Becky Choma
    Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts
  • Sara Edge
    Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Arts
  • Elsayed Elbeshbishy
    Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
  • William Huggon
    Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts
  • Julie Kellershohn
    Marketing Management, Ted Rogers School of Management
  • Adrian Ma
    School of Journalism, Faculty of Communication and Design
  • Joseph Recupero
    RTA School of Media, Faculty of Communication and Design
  • Jasna Schwind
    Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Faculty of Community Services
  • Oona St-Amant
    Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Faculty of Community Services
  • Sharareh Taghipour
    Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
  • Melissa Toffanin
    School of Accounting and Finance, Ted Rogers School of Management
  • Jonathon Anderson
    School of Interior Design, Faculty of Communication and Design
  • Ebrahim Bagheri
    Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
  • Roberto Botelho
    Department of Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Science
  • Tara Collins
    School of Child and Youth Care, Faculty of Community Services
  • Anthony Francescucci
    Department of Marketing Management, Ted Rogers School of Management
  • Sharonna Greenberg
    Department of Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Science
  • Sarah Henstra
    Department of English, Faculty of Arts
  • John Shiga
    School of Professional Communication, Faculty of Communication and Design
  • Farid Shirazi
    Information Technology Management, Ted Rogers School of Management
  • June Yee
    School of Social Work, Faculty of Community Services
  • Fei Yuan
    Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science