TORONTO, Oct, 21, 2021 – Mairi Cowan, an Associate Professor in the Department of Historical Studies at the University of Toronto Mississauga, has been named one of Ontario’s most outstanding university teachers by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). She is receiving a 2020-2021 OCUFA Teaching Award for her outstanding contributions to the quality of higher education at Ontario’s universities.
“Mairi Cowan loves to teach and students praise her for respecting them as collaborators in the classroom,” said Associate Professor Edmund Pries, Chair of OCUFA’s Award Committee. “Her passion for history, attentiveness to the needs of her students, and her creativity exemplify the effectiveness of her approach to education.”
The other recipients of a 2020-2021 OCUFA Teaching Award are:
- Melanie Adrian, Associate Professor in the Department of Law and Legal Studies at Carleton University
- Annette Bailey, Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at Ryerson/X University
- Rosa da Silva, Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at McMaster University
- Dragana Obradović, Associate Professor in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Toronto
- Kathryn Plaisance, Associate Professor in the Department of Knowledge Integration at the University of Waterloo
- Micah Stickel, Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Toronto
“The work of Ontario’s university professors and academic librarians touches the life of every student who pursues a university education in Ontario and inspires them to embrace new ideas and build a brighter future,” said OCUFA President Sue Wurtele. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s recipients have distinguished themselves through their dedication and boundless energy. OCUFA is honoured to recognize them with teaching and librarianship awards.”
The recipients of the 49th annual TALA awards are being honoured in a special video celebrating their achievements.
Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 17,000 professors and academic librarians in 30 faculty associations across Ontario. It is committed to enhancing the quality of higher education in Ontario and recognizing the outstanding contributions of its members towards creating a world-class university system. For more information, please visit the OCUFA website at www.ocufa.on.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Ben Lewis, Communications Lead at 416-306-6033 or communications@ocufa.on.ca