Posted June 15, 2006 on the Trent University web site.
Dr. Deborah Berrill, director of Trent's School of Education and Professional Learning, and Dr. Susan Wurtele, a Trent geography professor, have both been awarded prestigious 3M Teaching Fellowships, in recognition of their excellence in teaching and educational leadership at the national level.
The award, co-sponsored by the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) and 3M Canada Company, is given annually to professors who excel in the teaching of their own courses and demonstrate an exceptionally high degree of leadership and commitment to the improvement of university teaching across disciplines.
"On behalf of the entire Trent community and particularly our students, I congratulate Professor Berrill and Professor Wurtele for this national award recognizing their exceptional commitment to teaching and leadership in the classroom," said Trent President Bonnie Patterson. "Their honour adds to a prestigious list of previous 3M Teaching Fellowships Award winners at Trent - and further reinforces Trent's reputation for excellence in teaching. Trent's renown for quality of education is clearly an outcome of our professors' extraordinary commitment to the centrality of the individual student."
The 3M Teaching Fellowship recognizes Professor Deborah Berrill's work with the School of Education and Professional Learning, as well as her significant contributions to the Trent University Interactive Learning Center. A noted expert in her field, Dr. Berrill has given more than 50 presentations and workshops on many topics related to teaching and learning.
"It is very humbling to be a recipient when I know of so many others -- at Trent and at other higher education institutions -- who are doing very innovative things, engaging students and supporting colleagues," said Dr. Berrill. "I am deeply thrilled to be receiving this award and grateful to all of those who made this happen."
One of Professor Berrill's many nominators referred to her as being "superhuman." Another nominator stated, "Deborah's influence on me has demonstrated that the sky is the limit, and that, truly, one teacher can make a difference."
Associate Professor Susan Wurtele is being recognized by 3M for her passion, and an amazing talent for being able to connect with all students. A professor in the Geography department since 1994, Dr. Wurtele received her undergraduate degree from Trent. In terms of teaching, she is known for her good humour and for placing value not only on academic rigour, but on challenging her students to grow as thinkers, citizens and mature human beings.
"I am thrilled and speechless all at the same time. It doesn't get better than this," said Professor Wurtele. "This award gives national recognition to something I am really passionate about. It is really for all of my students - it reaffirms how important the student really is."
Dr. Wurtele's nominators had nothing but praise for their favourite teacher, calling her an "extraordinary teacher" and stating, "She transformed the way I thought." Another nominator referred to Professor Wurtele's courses as "life changing."
Professors Berrill and Wurtele, along with the eight other 2006 Fellows, will be celebrated on Thursday, June 15 at the STLHE Conference being held at the University of Toronto. One of the other winners, Dr. Susan Drain, from the department of English at Mount Saint Vincent University, completed her undergraduate work at Trent. In November, they will all participate in an exclusive three day retreat at the Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello in Montebello, Quebec to celebrate their outstanding achievements and to share their experiences and vision.
Since 1986 when the award was introduced, 208 Canadian university professors, representing 41 different universities, have been recognized as 3M Teaching Fellowship Award recipients. With this year's recognition of Dr. Berrill and Dr. Wurtele, Trent University is now home to five 3M Teaching Fellows, including: Dr. Alan Slavin (1993), Dr. Stephen Brown (1997), and Dr. David Poole (2003).
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The following citations were taken directly from the 3M Teaching Fellowships Awards brochure:
3M Citation for Deborah Berrill:
At Trent University, as Director of Education and Professional Learning, Deborah is in charge of the overall direction and management of the Bachelor of Education K-12 program. Her responsibilities require not only a comprehensive knowledge of the University's various faculties, schools, and boards, but also a thorough understanding of the standards and structures of teacher education in Ontario.
A role model, Deborah has been one of the main contributors to the Trent University Interactive Learning Center. She has given more than 50 presentations and workshops on virtually every topic related to teaching and learning.
Many scholars have mastered the complex theories of education, but only a few can translate their profound meanings into concrete teaching and learning.
Starting with strong theoretical foundations, Deborah still keeps students - as human beings - at the focus of her teaching. For Deborah, teaching means "recognition, legitimization, and valuing of student's identities," helping them to realize "a sense of belonging in their communities."
Deborah has won several awards in two different universities. Although it might sound far-fetched, her students regularly rate her as almost perfect in their teacher evaluations.
"In my initial year as an undergraduate I thought Deborah Berrill was superhuman," recalls one of her students. "How could someone be such an incredible human being and such an amazing teacher?"
"Deborah has shown me how to be kind yet ambitious, how to have fun and be academic," said another student. "Deborah's influence on me has demonstrated that the sky is the limit, and that, truly, one teacher can make a difference."
3M Citation for Susan Wurtele
Students flock to Susan Wurtele's courses at Trent, regardless of the subject she is teaching. As one student said, "You have to love a course you're going
to miss attending."
From the classroom, to the web, to the farm,Wurtele's "magic" is evident in all she does. As a winner of Trent's university-wide teaching award,
she is called "an exceptional teacher, able to instruct, challenge, and inspire her students."
What is so special about Susan's teaching? According to her students, she is an "engaging speaker," making even "potentially dry and boring material interesting and thought-provoking."
Using "humour and practical examples to engage students," she knows her subject and teaches with passion. She varies the techniques she uses to make sure all her students learn, from use of mind maps to her course web sites. As an urban geographer and an active citizen, Susan takes her students into the community to do meaningful research in the real world. She was a founding member of Trent's community-based education project, where she shared her drive to bring together students and the community to make a difference. In a recent project, students' prepared an actual transportation plan to ensure the safety of children walking to school.
Whether hiking with students from farm to farm in Northern Ireland, or driving with them in a van to Ottawa, Susan is always teaching. Her students say she: "transformed the way I thought," "her course was life changing."