UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN
Recognizing innovation, impact in teaching: 2025/26 Provost's Teaching Awards

Exemplary teaching and leadership in learning are at the heart of the University of Saskatchewan's (USask) academic mission. The Provost's Teaching Awards are awarded in adjudicated categories to celebrate individuals whose outstanding contributions have a university-wide impact, recognizing excellence, innovation, and dedication to student success across disciplines and roles.

"These award recipients are among the very best educators at the University of Saskatchewan," said Dr. Patti McDougall (PhD), interim provost and vice-president academic. "Their work exemplifies how innovative teaching can transform student learning and contribute meaningfully to our broader mission as a university. Through their leadership, creativity, and passion, they not only elevate the student experience, but also help shape a culture of teaching and learning that benefits our entire university community."

Recipients are honoured in several adjudicated categories including the Provost's Outstanding Teacher Award, Provost's New Teacher Award, Provost's Graduate Student Teacher Award, Provost's Support of Teaching and Learning Award, and the Sylvia Wallace Sessional Lecturer Award as well as through the Provost's College Awards for Outstanding Teaching. Together, these awards highlight the breadth of excellence found across colleges and disciplines. 

All award winners will be celebrated at the USask Staff and Faculty Awards event on June 17. A full list of recipients of USask Staff and Faculty Awards is available online.

"I believe that geography is best learned through direct engagement with the processes, landscapes, and communities that shape our world. At its core, my teaching philosophy emphasizes experiential learning, the integration of multiple ways of knowing, and the cultivation of curiosity through storytelling and scientific inquiry. I aim to cultivate independent thinkers who ask meaningful questions, make informed observations, and approach the world with humility and respect for the cultural histories embedded in the land." 

"I aim for students to carry forward a mindset of inquiry and resilience. Developing the habit of pausing to reflect, question, and engage meaningfully with the community around them is central to that. I want them to trust their capacity to lead, communicate, and advocate for themselves, their profession, and those they support. Being a health-care professional is not about having the right answers, but about being willing to explore, adapt, and persist. If students leave with the confidence to think critically and act with purpose, their learning will continue to evolve long after their time in the program." 

"I want my students to take away genuine enthusiasm and curiosity not just for my topics, but for veterinary medicine as a whole. Perhaps most importantly, I want them to be unapologetic in their excitement and desire to learn more. Ask all the questions! Share fun facts with your friends! The spirit of curiosity will benefit your colleagues and make you the best veterinarian you can be." 

"In my teaching practice, I aim to introduce critical concepts in a way that is approachable and relatable so that students can make the connections between critical theory, their personal lived experiences, and the tangible impacts on patients in the health care system. I hope they take advantage of being students at the University of Saskatchewan. It is a wonderful opportunity to explore new ways of knowing, challenge long-held beliefs, and reimagine what a healthy and prosperous future could like for all the people of Saskatchewan." 

"I hope to not only help my students learn new material, but also help them recognize that teaching is reciprocal, and the importance of being open-minded. While I teach my students, they are always teaching me as well. Everyone approaches problems differently and, instead of getting everyone to think the same way, we should be working to understand their reasoning. Being open-minded allows me to learn from the students and think differently, letting me grow from my teaching experiences." 

"My hope is that students leave my class seeing the world differently, carrying the concepts and theories we explore into their everyday lives. When a student can pause at any moment and name the dynamics at play, connecting what they learned in the classroom to the world around them, that is when I believe learning has truly taken place." 

"I hope students leave my classroom with a commitment to critical thinking, empathy, and social justice, rooted in anti-oppressive education. I want them to question assumptions, recognize and challenge systems of inequality, and value diverse perspectives. My goal is for students to embrace learning as a tool for both personal growth and collective liberation, carrying forward the habit of advocating for equity and creating inclusive, transformative spaces wherever they go."