Dr. Malgorzata (Gosha) Zywno
Areas of Academic Interest
Control systems
System identification & modelling
Engineering education
Spotlight
Gosha Zywno knows a good teacher from a bad one. Her undergraduate experience in the classroom of an engaging yet cruel professor set an early example of how one should – or shouldn’t – teach. “He had an inkling of how to reach students through active learning. I loved the way he explained the science to us, but I hated the way he mistreated his students.”
Zywno has harnessed those experiences, both good and bad, to not only hone her own teaching excellence but also mentor more than 200 professors across campus through the University Teaching Development Program since 2003. Blending the benefits of active learning with respect for her students has earned Zywno both an Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) Teaching Award (one of only a handful bestowed to Ryerson professors) and a 3M National Teaching Fellowship award in 2002 (the first ever awarded to a Ryersonian). “You have to treat people with respect because, otherwise, you’re not reaching them.”
“I care about my students, about teaching well and about mentoring other instructors.”
- 3M National Teaching Fellowship, 2002
- OCUFA Teaching Excellence Award, 2003
- CCPE Medal for Distinction in Engineering Education, 2005
- Ryerson Chancellor’s Award of Distinction, 2010
- Member, Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO)
- Member, PEO Academic Requirements Committee (ARC)
