Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) instructor Dr. Lee Beavington is being recognized for his outstanding commitment to students in higher education.
Dr. Lee Beavington.
The British Columbia Teaching and Learning Council (BCTLC) has awarded Beavington a 2025 West Coast Teaching Excellence Award, which celebrates excellence in post-secondary teaching.
"My mentors and students made me the educator I am today. I am humbled and honoured to be a recipient of this award. This strongly validates learner-centred education that respects students and encourages them to show up as their authentic selves," says Beavington, an interdisciplinary instructor and learning strategist at KPU.
Beavington holds a PhD in philosophy of education, and is an award-winning author, TEDx speaker, and founder of KPU Wild Spaces, an interdisciplinary teaching and learning hub that focuses on ecological place-based education in post-secondary.
A recipient of KPU's Distinguished Teaching Award, Beavington has taught numerous courses and has worked in five faculties at KPU, including being a faculty leader for the Amazon Field School. He also serves on the Climate+ Challenge team at KPU with a focus on climate justice. As a learning strategist, he works with students and faculty to help cultivate effective lifelong learning, including facilitating academic skills workshops and individual consultations.
Beavington recently spearheaded the launch of the Decolonizing Educational Practices website, and co-taught, with Anthony Fernandes, a new KPU course, INDG/BIOL 1492: Indigenous Perspectives in Biology. One of his next projects focuses on student wellness, and he plans to develop supports and resources for neurodivergent learners in their educational journey.
"Dr. Beavington is widely known for his passion around ecology, Indigenous initiatives, and teaching and learning in outdoor spaces," says Leeann Waddington, Associate Vice-President, Teaching and Learning at KPU. "His innovative approach to teaching and his passion for being an educator exemplifies the spirit of this award."
