Bill Black, Lorraine Black, Maria Pacurar, Aryan Chawla, and Renee Black
A room full of professors, staff, students, and guests heard a long and detailed list of reasons why the recipients of this yearâs Teaching Excellence Awards were chosen. The event, sponsored by the Black Family Foundation, is in its 20th year and the three students introducing faculty spent little time on the usual accolades.
Amongst the descriptions of therapy dogs, donut days, and creating a positive environment, the audience learned how Tammy Crowell, Maria Pacurar, and Philippe Mongeon have made lasting impressions on their students.
She (Maria Pacurar) nurtures curiosity
Poppy Riddle (MIâ22), who went from her master's into a PhD, talks about her thesis supervisor, Philippe Mongeon, this way: âHe encourages us as students to embrace the role of scholar, which I think was always seen as this other sort of identity.â (Pictured right: Phillipe Mongeon and Poppy Riddle)
Riddle continues with comments from students who could not be present. Reading Jordanâs email she says, âhe helped me and others navigate the treacherous world of grant applications,â adding, âhis enthusiasm was infectious, transforming my feelings of doubt into feelings of excitement. It seems to me there is nothing else he would like to be doing other than helping a student engage and experiment with their ideas in their research.â
Aryan Chawla, who is finishing his BComm, says Maria Pacurarâs curiosity is infectious, she nurtures curiosity. He adds, âShe has guest speakers, millions of them. She always finds brilliant people.â Chawla chuckles when he says, âher humour is very underappreciated in class.â
âThe bottom line is I care about my studentsâ
Bill Black, who attended the award ceremony with his family, insists that the award money is not to be used for research. âHave fun with it, you deserve it,â he says. Reflecting on his own professors, he adds, âI had some lousy ones, and I had some great ones⊠This is to celebrate the ones that are excellent.â
Stephanie Wooden, also in the final year of her BComm, says she has taken three courses from Tammy Crowell. What impresses Wooden is that in addition to creating a welcoming and open environment, Crowell has âgotten extra certifications to really help her students learn and understand whatâs happening in the industry.â
Maria Pacurar, who says her thoughts on teaching have changed since she started two decades ago, knows how important it is for the students to feel that you care. Crowell echoes Pacurarâs sentiments. She says, âThe bottom line is that I like being in the classroom, I care about my students, and I have a lot of fun with it.â
Tammy Crowell (holding award) with colleagues and students
Recent News
- Matthew Kratz (MBAâ25) brings fresh eyes to both class and work
- Q&A with Thomas Koo: Moving to Dal and his research on customer experience
- Dana KabatâFarr and Stacy AllisonâCassin win Research Impact awards
- Commerce alum helping Nova Scotians find a home
- Dal alumni who are now Canadaâs rising business leaders point to common theme for success
- Shakara Russell Joseph (MBAâ24) welcomes change while holding on to lifelong values
- Mobina Zareieâs (MScBâ24) recipe for success
- From artifacts to archives, Keith Macknight (MIâ24) is in the right place