MSU teaching award winners. Upper row, from left: Shahrukh Athar, Claire Tuckey, Jeremy Cohen. Lower row, from left: Erica Speakman, Hartley Jafine, Teal McAteer and Caroline Junkins.
Organized by the MSU's Macademics, the awards are based entirely on student submissions.
The nominations are a compelling reminder that students recognize and appreciate their instructors' hard work and teaching, along with their approachability, communication, energy and commitment to student success.
"More teachers should look to him as an inspiration."
"The most empathetic and knowledgeable professor I have had."
"She never fails to let me know how proud of me she is, and it really makes a big difference as a student."
Here are this year's winners of the student-nominated awards, along with a sampling of what their students said about them. The first two professors Shahrukh Athar and Erica Speakman also received this award last year.
Shahrukh Athar | Faculty of Engineering
"He is the GOAT"
"He asked us a few weeks into the course how we felt about it with anonymous handouts and read all 300+ of them. He put them on an excel sheet with the number of times someone said that thing, and he actually implemented the changes. He always hosts review sessions, often late at night to accommodate, and he even hosts online office hours for those who can't come in person. Class averages have been high not because the test is easy but because he truly teaches with passion and love and knowledge. He makes me excited to come to class."
"There were multiple times where I had to go to office hours or ask the professor a question after class to clear some concepts. I was very nervous that my questions were too basic or that they were from topics we learned far in the past. However, every time I came to ask him my questions, he took his time answering and explaining everything in detail, and then checked with me to make sure I understood. he always answers all questions with the same level of care and depth."
Erika Speakman | Faculty of Social Sciences
"She is the best professor I've had this semester, I am planning to take another course with her next semester because I love the way she teaches."
"Dr. Speakman is a professor who is incredibly passionate about her job. You can just tell she loves to be an educator. I have been to her office hours a few times Dr. Speakman has always been incredibly welcoming and kind, willing to help and answer all kinds of questions, even if they are not related to the course."
"I went into SOCPSY 1Z03 having no prior interest in the field and I am now considering to apply for it next year. I honestly am mad that there were not more lectures because of how much fun I had. I hope that I am able to take another course with Dr. Speakman because she truly elevates the content!"
Claire Tuckey | Faculty of Science
"This is my fifth class with Dr. Tuckey, because after my first class with her I wanted to take more of her courses no matter what the subject was in kinesiology. As a student in her class, I feel supported throughout the whole term and feel like she wants to work with us to help us succeed."
"Dr. Tuckey is easily of the most comforting and kindest people I know. No matter how stressful and hectic the semester gets, walking into her classroom feels like a deep exhale and my shoulders relax. Watching the ease with which she delivers beautifully organized content inspires me to take on my responsibilities more gracefully and face each day with confidence. I have never seen anything but a warm smile on Dr. Tuckey's face and these positive attitude and enthusiasm is truly contagious and can be felt within my peers throughout the room."
"Dr. Tuckey helped me become very active in all of my classes because of the support I felt raising my hand to her questions. Her expertise in the field never disrupts her open-mindedness, which is another trait I wish to implement."
Teal McAteer | DeGroote School of Business
"By far the best professor I have ever had in my 3 years at McMaster. The very first lecture I had with her gave me chills. I left with a smile! It has been ages since I felt this way about school. She is motivating, charismatic, thoughtful, challenges her students, and is overall inspiring. I hope to take more of her classes, I even thought about switching programs she inspired me so profoundly!"
"Teal McAteer has been genuinely the best professor I have and will probably ever have. She is so passionate about the subject and that makes the lectures amazing. I'm fact if I could sit in on her lectures just for fun I would. Amazing professor and I am incredibly sad the semester has ended."
"I had the pleasure of being taught by Dr. Teal McAteer in COMMERCE 1BA3. Although this class was at 8:00 am and I am not a morning person, I can say with confidence that I was always eager to come to class. The majority of the class seemed to feel the same way, judging by the surprisingly full lecture hall. Dr. McAteer knows how to teach and how to do it well. "
Jeremy Cohen | Faculty of Humanities
"Dr. Cohen is incredibly articulate about the various concepts he addresses within his class it is beyond impressive how engaging someone can be so early in the morning. I am in awe of how interesting his course is . For someone whose goal in the next two years is to graduate from teachers college, he is very inspiring and I hope to leave the same kind of impression on my future students."
"I am totally inept at the content of this course but I'm sticking with it because I like the professor. I could listen to him all day. He's also very unstuffy, helpful and personal. I am so glad I met him. He's the type of prof one remembers throughout one's life."
Hartley Jafine | Faculty of Health Sciences
"His passion and energy for both theater and student learning is inspiring. He is incredibly approachable and supportive. His empathetic human centred teaching style has allowed me to push outside my comfort zone. Before his course I was petrified by the idea of acting and improvisation; I used the excuse that I wasn't an artistic person to escape the discomfort. Today I've found a deep appreciation for the role theater and art play in society alongside the transformation it can play in any individual's personal growth. I would jump at the opportunity to take another class with Hartley."
"[The] energy he brings to every single class is infectious and makes everyone else really willing to put in the work and engage with the class material. I've never met a professor who cared so much about his students, like truly cared about their well-being, and I think that is rare and should be recognized. I purposefully choose to take courses that I know he teaches because of how great he is as an instructor and as a human being."
Caroline Junkins | Arts and Science Program
"Her genuine joy when teaching the class makes her such a kind, approachable and motivating teacher. I feel very supported academically and comfortable asking questions as well. I can really tell that she enjoys teaching as she always shows up with a smile! She is constantly taking the time to make the learning experience more engaging for all of us. She has truly made the experience of learning calculus for the first time less daunting for me and I am so grateful to have her as a professor!"
"Dr. Junkins always comes to class prepared, excited, and ready to share her love for math. She's excellent at simplifying topics to better teach when we have questions and motivates us to try our best. It is evident that she loves mathematics and that love spreads to her students."
Teaching assistants Kyle Sung from the Faculty of Science, and Muhammad Nabil Rajput from the Faculty of Engineering also received student-nominated TA awards.
The MSU also awarded seven application-based awards. Here are this year's recipients:
MSU Award of Distinction: Colin Mang
Teaching Assistant of the Year Award: Alexis Andrade
Innovation Award: Anna Korol
Teaching Merit Award: Yingnan Zhao
Community Engagement Awards: Carrie McMullin, Sarah Whitwell, Emily Scherzinger
