Dean's Teaching Award – Faculty (TFA) Recipients

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