Recognition Dinner 2019

Sessional instructor Bruno de Oliveira Jayme was recognized for his teaching excellence. His respectful, inspirational and innovative way of teaching is truly transformational. It allows students to connect deeply with each other and creates a place of community and trust. Bruno has demonstrated a commitment to creating space for other ways of knowing and learning while maintaining the integrity of a graduate level course within an academic institution.

Associate professor revered by his team, Marc Klimstra is constantly seeking to improve his courses and teaching environment. He is working on redesigning the Kinesiology program to improve our undergraduate student experience. Beyond continually improving his teaching, Marc’s teaching extends outside of the classroom where he participates in a wide range of outreach teaching commitments.

EPLS Master student Kathryn Saunders was recognized by the Diversity and Belonging Committee for her initiatives to engage in curriculum change by challenging problematic content in her classes and working with the EPLS Equity Committee to engage in a decolonizing initiative to role model anti-oppressive behaviours. Kathryn's dedication to counselling work supporting diverse and marginalized populations and her engagement in the community is outstanding.

Fourth-year elementary teacher education student Melissa Lyon was recognized for her leadership and powerful advocacy for students with disabilities. Her volunteerism for various organizations includes Dr. Tanaka’s Centre for Autism Research, Technology, & Education (CARTE), building a robotic butler for people with disabilities, and helping classmates and many in her community better understand what it means to live with a disability. She also tutored indigenous students at the Kwum Kwum Lelum Songhees through CORE and is on the advisory teams for the BC Cerebral Palsy Association, the BC Children’s Health Foundation, and the Headway Victoria Epilepsy Association.

EPHE Master student Cassandra Husband was awarded for her outstanding innovative work titled: Identity Crisis: A mixed methods examination of exercise identity development using qualitative interviews and a feasibility randomized trial. Her work examined the antecedents of exercise identity formation among undergraduate students, and the feasibility of translating these antecedents into intervention targets. Cassandra’s work explored identity formation through indirect means of motivated behaviour change over time, or through direct targeting of identity-related antecedents, and is the first intervention of its kind.

EPLS PhD student Breanna C. Lawrence received this award for her outstanding, innovative and challenging study of the direct and indirect influences of co-occurring mental health difficulties and learning disabilities in Canadian youth titled: An Ecological Mixed Methods Study of Youth with Learning Disabilities: Exploring Personal and Familial Influences on Mental Health.

EDCI PhD student Michael Paskevicius was awarded for his research titled: Exploring Educators Experiences Implementing Open Educational Practices. His work explores the experience of educators who adapted their pedagogical practices to open education. His work has made significant and original contributions to the academic community in educational technology and open education, and to Canadian society in general. 

Caren Willms (Art Education) was recognized for her outstanding work contribution. Beyond overseeing six studio spaces, keeping a close eye on budget, maintaining a library of art print materials, purchasing, organizing and protecting supplies, building strong relationships with students, faculty members, and sessional instructors; Caren oversees work-study students; liaises with other units on campus, and reviews student lesson plans. She is also a practicing artist with a sound knowledge of studio activities. Because of her uncanny ability to be aware of the activities in each studio, Caren anticipates needs and works to make certain that necessary materials are available.