Jean Andrey has been a faculty member in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management since 1989. She has been referred to by students as a "role model that all of us will strive to be like in our future work."
Jean is widely recognized and appreciated by students and faculty colleagues, for the mix of learning methods used in her courses, her energy, enthusiasm and humour, constructive comments, concern for students, accessibility outside of the classroom and conviction that her students "will get it." She also is recognized as extremely demanding, but fair in her expectations of students.
One undergraduate student, graduating at convocation, remarked that next year she will be attending teacher's college, and intends to take with her "some convictions that I have learned from ...My friend and professor, Dr. Jean Andrey." In the student's words, these convictions include: (1) "enthusiasm encourages learning," (2) "always believe in the best in your students, and let them know their strengths," (3) "listen and learn from each person you meet," (4) "keep your door and your life open to students," (5) "never stop learning," (6) "think positively and know there is always room for self improvement," and (7) "admit when you don't know an answer and use that as an opportunity to excite curiosity and challenge individual investigation."
Students and colleagues of popular Geography professor Jane Irvine have capped the retiring professor’s career by honouring her with a UW Distinguished Teacher Award. Dr. Jane Irvine earned her PhD from UW and became a professor in 1989. During her career, she led thousands of students on field trips in courses such as Geomorphology and Southern Ontario Environment, Coastal Geomorphology, and Physical Geography.
Her students established a “We love Prof. Jane Irvine” group on Facebook to share pictures and anecdotes. The award citation reads: “Professor Irvine has demonstrated a passion for teaching and mentoring her students. They enjoy her lectures because she uses many examples from her own field experience as a researcher. Jane has taken her students on many field trips, which have been very helpful in reinforcing the concepts that they learn in class. She has also been involved in the ‘Waterloo Unlimited’ high school outreach program. Professor Irvine encourages interactions among her students. She dedicates her time and energy to her students, and is genuinely engaged in a way that brings out the best in them. When other professors and colleagues of Jane’s ask her students about a geomorphological process, the students end their responses with, “Jane taught us that…”
Let me begin this citation with the definition of a required course. A required course is one which students in a particular program must take, whether they like it or not. Enrolments in these courses are often quite large, and students in them - at least those who are there because they have to be - are not noted for standing ovations at the end of the term. All of Geoff McBoyle's undergraduate teaching is in required courses. This alone suggests that his consistently strong ratings from students, and his repeated nomination for this award, are at the very least, remarkable.
Perhaps Geoff's impact on students is best captured by a person who took courses at Waterloo many years ago. That individual said:
"He taught a second year course in climatology in the early years. He would come into class in the winter with those black and red rubber boots, walk across the stage, kick off the boots and teach the class in stocking feet. As the lecture went on, Geoff would get more and more involved...and by the end of the class his socks (which were work socks...) would be hanging off the ends of his toes."
So much for the pedagogic uses of comic relief!
As a teacher and research advisor, Geoff has been recognized by his students as stimulating, demanding, enthusiastic and caring-the combination of qualities in a teacher that students remember as having made a difference in their lives.
Geoff has increasingly taken a quiet leadership position in making innovations in "teaching and learning" at this university and in the community at large. An example is his central role in the development of Co-op Geography. As Undergraduate Dean in the Faculty of Environment, he has responded to student concerns with insight and unfailing consideration for the students' best interests.
Geoff, we don't often see you with your socks off these days, but clearly your teaching style hasn't suffered!
Ian McKenzie, a technical staff member in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management since 1973, manages a geomorphology lab that supports physical geography classes. With a Ph.D. in geography, Ian supervises senior honours essays and contributes to Master's thesis committees. These activities often take him into the field with students. Ian is also a well-respected adjunct professor within the department.
Ian manages an intensive field course on the Bruce Peninsula for the 3A geography majors as well as organizing other field trips to Britain and to Presqu'ile Park. One student relays her experience:
"My group was responsible for researching the formation of ice volcanoes at Presqu'ile Provincial Park. This required being out on lake ice in -20 degrees Celsius weather for 12 hours a day for three days. Some instructors would have said 'there's the ice - go to it' but Ian was there the entire time".
Another testimony sums up the field experience of many of Ian's students:
"To describe the actual field trip would take pages. It was action-packed, fun-filled, well-coordinated, exciting, dramatic, unbelievable! I am astounded by the sheer volume of information we consumed. We were continuously learning, and all the while, Ian was subtly and gently questioning and challenging our observations and thinking so that we processed and learned what we experienced."
Bruce Mitchell, Professor of Geography and Environmental Management, has been a member of the University of Waterloo since 1969. Inspiring, enthusiastic, approachable, and dedicated are just a few words used to describe Professor Bruce Mitchell. His ability to transform complicated subject matter into understandable material is achieved through an innovative and interactive course structure. One of his techniques is to increase student involvement by having students teach a classroom lecture. Professor Mitchell is an exceptional speaker who brings the classroom alive by creating a challenging and critical environment. His interaction with his students is built on availability, respect and understanding. He encourages his students to develop confidence in their learning while making the entire process enjoyable. In addition, his numerous publications and involvement in research funded projects is of great assistance in his outstanding advising of graduate students. He is an important member of the Bali Sustainable Development Project and the University Consortium on the Environment. Professor Bruce Mitchell maintains a high teaching and learning standard, all to the benefit of the University of Waterloo.
