When the Faculty handed out its awards for excellence yesterday, Dr. Karen Fox, a professor in recreation and leisure studies, was honoured with the Research Excellence award for her body of work and its clear impacts on inner-city youth and Aboriginal communities. The SSHRC-funded scholar will continue her research into the life of intrepid mountaineer Margaret Fleming, about whose Rocky Mountain exploits she co-authored a book with Dr. PearlAnn Reichwein, and she will further explore a research project examining hip hop and Aboriginal youth.
Fox?s work has taken her to Edmonton?s inner city, where she and her former graduate student, Dr. Brett Lashua, started The Beat of Boyle Street, an award-winning program using music and hip hop to give teens a positive outlet for recreation, and she?s travelled to Ohio?s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum to look at ways of incorporating hip hop into the classroom.
The award for excellence in teaching went to Dr. Normand Boul?. Boul?s students were generous in their praise of their instructor, delighted by his skill in explaining concepts, his ?energetic, enthusiastic and knowledgeable? presentation of complex information. Warmth and approachability - part of Boul?s signature style in the classroom- won him enthusiastic endorsement by students, who also commented on his fairness, ease of availability for consultation after class and constant encouragement of students finding the subject matter challenging.
Graduate student teaching awards were made to doctoral student Ian Watts and master?s student, Jason Howard.
One of the Faculty?s new awards, the Core Values Award was won by Dr. Gordon Bell. Dean Mike Mahon praised Bell for embodying the values the faculty holds dear, by mentorship of new faculty members, by seeking to include, dedication to breakthrough research, authorship, egalitarianism, to creating to an exceptional student learning experience and sharing his depth of wisdom accumulated through a distinguished career as educator and researcher. One of Bell?s nominators said, ?Gord has been a mentor to me? and is always willing to give a helping hand. He is very hands-on in assisting his grad students with their projects and always makes himself available to meet with them to ensure they are always moving forward.?
Bill Humby, head coach of Golden Bears and Pandas Swimming was presented with the Excellence in Coaching award for his leadership of the team, skilfully building the sport at the university. ?He has made the University of Alberta a destination of choice for high performance swimmers,? said his nominators. Humby has set a record for the number of U of A swimmers who qualified for the CIS championships. In addition to his work as head coach, Humby has worked energetically to revitalise the swimming alumni organisation, and to support and mentor other coaches in the sport.
Alex Game was awarded the Outstanding Sessional Instructor/Administration award for carrying out his role as coordinator of the Exercise Physiology Laboratory and providing supervision and training of graduate student assistants in the anatomy, athletics injuries, exercise physiology and measurement of fitness and health areas of study. Game?s nominators praised his ?readiness to provide help at a moment?s notice and his ability to troubleshoot without embarrassing the GA in a win-win situation?? He has gone beyond the call of duty making arrangements for students who have had to miss labs and was lauded for his expertise and professionalism in dealing with outside organisations using the Sport and Health Assessment Centre.
The Outstanding Service/Administration Award was presented to Golden Bears and Pandas administrative assistant Keri Blue. Citing her positive attitude, commitment and dedication to her work, Blue?s nominator praised her initiative, calling her ?the glue that allows all of our athletics staff to work in a positive environment.? Blue was particularly praised for her interactions with student-athletes and for being the consummate team player.
Awards are made annually by the Faculty to mark excellence in teaching, research, core values, service/administration and coaching.
Fox?s work has taken her to Edmonton?s inner city, where she and her former graduate student, Dr. Brett Lashua, started The Beat of Boyle Street, an award-winning program using music and hip hop to give teens a positive outlet for recreation, and she?s travelled to Ohio?s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum to look at ways of incorporating hip hop into the classroom.
The award for excellence in teaching went to Dr. Normand Boul?. Boul?s students were generous in their praise of their instructor, delighted by his skill in explaining concepts, his ?energetic, enthusiastic and knowledgeable? presentation of complex information. Warmth and approachability - part of Boul?s signature style in the classroom- won him enthusiastic endorsement by students, who also commented on his fairness, ease of availability for consultation after class and constant encouragement of students finding the subject matter challenging.
Graduate student teaching awards were made to doctoral student Ian Watts and master?s student, Jason Howard.
One of the Faculty?s new awards, the Core Values Award was won by Dr. Gordon Bell. Dean Mike Mahon praised Bell for embodying the values the faculty holds dear, by mentorship of new faculty members, by seeking to include, dedication to breakthrough research, authorship, egalitarianism, to creating to an exceptional student learning experience and sharing his depth of wisdom accumulated through a distinguished career as educator and researcher. One of Bell?s nominators said, ?Gord has been a mentor to me? and is always willing to give a helping hand. He is very hands-on in assisting his grad students with their projects and always makes himself available to meet with them to ensure they are always moving forward.?
Bill Humby, head coach of Golden Bears and Pandas Swimming was presented with the Excellence in Coaching award for his leadership of the team, skilfully building the sport at the university. ?He has made the University of Alberta a destination of choice for high performance swimmers,? said his nominators. Humby has set a record for the number of U of A swimmers who qualified for the CIS championships. In addition to his work as head coach, Humby has worked energetically to revitalise the swimming alumni organisation, and to support and mentor other coaches in the sport.
Alex Game was awarded the Outstanding Sessional Instructor/Administration award for carrying out his role as coordinator of the Exercise Physiology Laboratory and providing supervision and training of graduate student assistants in the anatomy, athletics injuries, exercise physiology and measurement of fitness and health areas of study. Game?s nominators praised his ?readiness to provide help at a moment?s notice and his ability to troubleshoot without embarrassing the GA in a win-win situation?? He has gone beyond the call of duty making arrangements for students who have had to miss labs and was lauded for his expertise and professionalism in dealing with outside organisations using the Sport and Health Assessment Centre.
The Outstanding Service/Administration Award was presented to Golden Bears and Pandas administrative assistant Keri Blue. Citing her positive attitude, commitment and dedication to her work, Blue?s nominator praised her initiative, calling her ?the glue that allows all of our athletics staff to work in a positive environment.? Blue was particularly praised for her interactions with student-athletes and for being the consummate team player.
Awards are made annually by the Faculty to mark excellence in teaching, research, core values, service/administration and coaching.