Faculty recognized for outstanding teaching in College of Arts and Science

Four faculty members are being honoured for their service to students with 2022-23 College of Arts and Science Teaching Awards.

Drs. Chris Ambrose (PhD), Jenna Hunnef (PhD) and Josh Morrison (PhD) are recipients of this year’s New Teacher Awards. Dr. Robert (Bob) Patrick (PhD)is the recipient of the Distinguished Teacher Award. 

The New Teacher Awards are presented to instructors in the College of Arts and Science who began their appointments less than 10 years ago. The Distinguished Teacher Award recognizes instructors more than 10 years into their USask teaching careers. 

Chris Ambrose

New Teacher Award in a BSc program in Arts and Science

Dr. Chris Ambrose (PhD), an associate professor in the Department of Biology. When it comes to teaching, Ambrose’s goal is to make each student a scientist in some way—whether it’s through teaching science, research and academia, or through industry. 

After Ambrose started in the department in 2014, he revitalized the course BIOL 325, Plant Cells and Tissues, which had not been taught due to retirements and turnover in faculty. His hands-on approach to learning allows students to experience microscopy techniques that would not normally be included in an undergraduate education. The interactive lab aspect to his courses encourages engagement with learners. He also led the effort to purchase adaptors for fluorescence microscopy, which allowed students to see labeled proteins in living tissues. 

Ambrose creates a space for good comradery and rapport among trainees in labs, supervising three PhD students and a master’s student. Graduated students who trained under Ambrose have continued their education in post-doctoral work in cell biology and microscopy. 

“Like every science teacher, I strive to help students learn concepts, to communicate effectively, and to think critically. What comprises the underlying foundation of my teaching philosophy is that effective teaching above all stimulate interest in the topic.” 

Jenna Hunnef

New Teacher Award in a BA, BFA or BMus program in Arts and Science

Dr. Jenna Hunnef (PhD), an assistant professor in the Department of English, has been recognized for her “interesting, engaging and seamless” classes. Her research areas and teaching specialization includes Indigenous Norther American literature and Indigenous literary activism. 

Having started in the department eight months before the start of COVID-19 in March 2020, Hunnef quickly had to pivot and adapt her classes to an online format. Providing ample opportunities for online discussions, peer review assignments and optional weekly Zoom meetings, Hunnef ensured that her students were connected during the pandemic through using virtual tools available for online learning.

In feedback provided by students, some noted she made classes warm, participatory and wished they could take Hunnef’s classes again. She has a high degree of self-awareness, and her own limitations when teaching topics of race and Indigenous storytelling. Huneff also presents contextual and cultural considerations of authors’ identities. 

As one student stated about taking a class taught by Hunnef, “I feel like I learned more about Indigenous history, culture and of course literature in this class than I have in any previous classes in university or any previous education. Not only that, but this class made me feel more connected to my Indigenous heritage, and that is invaluable to me.”

Josh Morrison

New Teacher Award in BA, BFA or BMus program in Arts and Science

Dr. Josh Morrison (PhD) has been recognized for his teaching excellence at USask in the past. The faculty member in the Department of English, and Women and Gender Studies, was named a USSU Teaching Award Winner in 2021. 

As part of the interdisciplinary advisory team and faculty committee for the Department of English, Morrison was a critical part of establishing the Certificate in Queer Theory, Gender Diversity and Sexualities Studies offered at the College of Arts and Science. 

Described as a “passionate, warm, fierce advocate,” and a “critical listener,” Morrison is known for his ability to create transformative inclusion in his classrooms that “integrates Indigenous and other minoritized knowledges.” He provides students with perspectives on how skills gained from social science and humanities classrooms can translate to critical thinking, argumentative writing, research and self-expression.

“An essential part of feminist pedagogy is modeling the ways that I would like my students to approach different, even conflicting, ideas and beliefs as a method for developing empathy as a central part of academic and social interaction. This, to me, is the foundation of creating a classroom environment inclusive of women, queer and trans people, Indigenous students, people of colour and other marginalized groups.” 

Bob Patrick

Distinguished Teacher Award in a BA, BMus and BFA program in Arts and Science

Dr. Robert (Bob) Patrick (PhD) is known for his ability to create strong connections between students, community, university and profession. "Learning by doing” is the preferred method of teaching for Patrick, who is a professor in the Department of Geography and Planning. 

Patrick decided to pursue his PhD after two decades of regional planning experience in British Columbia. His personal experience informed his own teaching philosophy, a student-centred approach that focuses on needs for real-world experiences. 

Many of his classes involve bringing students outside of the classroom for planning projects involving Indigenous communities, such as Beardy’s Okemasis’ Cree Nation, and other communities like Melfort.

To expand his own teaching experience, Patrick has also taken courses through the Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching and Learning to work on his own pedagogy when teaching larger class sizes. 

Finding that existing textbooks were not sufficient for the course material he wanted to teach, he wrote his own textbooks. Patrick published e-books, Protecting Sources of Drinking Water: A Resource Guidebook for Indigenous Communities, Watershed Associations, Local Governmental Associations in 2019 and Sustainable Cities and Regions in 2020. 

“My goal is to build confidence amongst students through mentorship grounded in trust, communication, role modelling and the acknowledgement that we are all learning together. In addition to providing the tools and knowledge to be more effective learners, an equally important goal is to instill confidence in each student that they will be successful in life.” 

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