Sue Williams Excellence in Teaching Award
Do you have a professor or instructor in the Faculty of Community Services (FCS) who exemplifies excellence in teaching? Nominate them for the Sue Williams Excellence in Teaching Award!
The Sue Williams Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes faculty or instructors in FCS for their outstanding performance and dedication to teaching graduate and undergraduate students.
- Nominees must be TFA or contract lecturers at the Faculty of Community Services
- Individuals who have received the award within the last five years are not eligible for nomination
- Nominations, describing the qualities and characteristics of an exceptional teacher, are submitted by students
- Nominators must be current Toronto Metropolitan University undergraduate or graduate students (supporting testimonials from alumnae may be included)
Tell us what makes your professor or instructor great!
In nominating your professor or instructor for this award, you will be asked to explain how your professor or instructor demonstrates strength or excellence in each of the following four criteria.
Tip
Share how your nominee exemplifies each criteria in 200 words each. For each of the award criteria there are prompt questions that you can use to help guide your answer or you can write freely about how your nominee meets each criteria.
1. Teaching Methods
In what ways does your professor or instructor demonstrate excellence in teaching methods? You may consider any of the following prompts:
- How do they create multiple accessible channels for participation and engagement with course content for students with different learning styles?
- How do they create an engaging and rewarding learning experience for students?
- How do they incorporate real world events and experiences into the course material as they happen?
2. Equity and Inclusion
In what ways does your professor or instructor demonstrate excellence in equity and inclusion? You may consider any of the following prompts:
- How do they bring issues of equity and justice into the classroom?
- How are the diverse life experiences of underrepresented or marginalized communities reflected in the course?
- How do they demonstrate commitment to activism or social change and the relationship between classroom and community?
- How do they nurture the intellectual and scholarly growth of students from diverse backgrounds and with different learning abilities, styles, and levels?
3. Inspiration/Transformation
In what ways does your professor or instructor demonstrate excellence in inspiration/transformation? You may consider any of the following prompts:
- How do they inspire students to enact change in their communities or profession?
- How have they transformed the way you think, learn, read or act?
- How do they inspire students to consider graduate school or professional development?
- How do they recognize the diversity of academic interests of students?
4. Critical Thinking
In what ways does your professor or instructor demonstrate excellence in critical thinking? You may consider any of the following prompts:
- How do they stimulate students to think creatively and critically?
- How are students challenged to consider viewpoints that differ from their own?
- How do they engage students in linking theory and practice and applying critical thinking in real-life situations?
Do you have a professor or instructor who meets all the criteria for the Sue Williams Excellence in Teaching Award? Nominate them now by following the steps below:
1. Let your nominee know and obtain their permission
- Ensure they have not been nominated by someone else
- Ensure they have not received the Sue Williams Award within the past five years
2. Submit the nomination package through the Award Nomination Portal
- Review the (PDF file) Student Nomination Guidelines (opens in new window)
- Complete the awards criteria, sharing how your professor or instructor exemplifies engaging teaching methods, addresses equity and inclusion, inspires you and encourages critical thinking
- Add two testimonials from fellow students or alumni
Submit a completed nomination application by March 4, 2024 via the Online Nomination Portal.
A completed nomination includes:
1) Four responses (maximum 200 words each) describing how the instructor demonstrates strength or excellence in each of the following areas:
- Teaching Methods
- Equity and Inclusion
- Inspiration/Transformation
- Critical Thinking
Tip
Don’t forget to include examples and details that will help the adjudication team see why your professor or instructor deserves this award!
2) Two testimonials (maximum 150 words each) from fellow students or alumni who are not the primary nominator.
Upload your testimonials to the nomination portal as PDFs.
Tip
Testimonials must include word count, author’s name, student number, program and year of study (if applicable)
An FCS adjudication committee consisting of members of the FCS Learning and Teaching Committee and past award recipients evaluates nominations for the Sue Williams Excellence in Teaching Award and selects an award recipient. While two awards are usually presented yearly, the Committee reserves the right to offer greater or fewer number of awards.
- Nominations open from February 1 to March 4th
2022-23
- Gordon Pon, Social Work
- Lovisa Fung, Early Childhood Studies
- Steven Solomon, Social Work
2021-22
- May Friedman, Social Work
- Vanessa Barnett, Early Childhood Studies
2020-21
- Idil Abdillahi, Disability Studies
- Ciro Fernando Bustillo LeCompte, Occupational and Public Health
- Jennifer Ajandi, Social Work
2019-20
- Jasna Schwind, Nursing
2018-19
- Margareth Zanchetta, Nursing
- Chelsea Jones, Disability Studies
For more information on the award and nomination process, please contact:
Awards, Recruitment and Events Coordinator
Name: Angeline Cheung
Email: angeline.cheung@torontomu.ca
Please refer to the Privacy Statement regarding the collection and use of personal information.