Lowell Ewert, Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) at Conrad Grebel University College and the University of Waterloo, has been honoured with one of the four UWaterloo 2020 Distinguished Teacher Awards. This award celebrates exemplary instructors with a record of teaching excellence over an extended period. In addition to intellectual rigour, criteria for the award include impact beyond the classroom, concern for students, and a favourable and lasting influence on students and colleagues.
“These characteristics clearly mark Lowell’s teaching in the PACS Department,” said Grebel’s Dean Troy Osborne. “Those of us who have worked alongside Lowell have benefitted from his honest reflection on the craft of teaching and many of his students have remarked on the way that Lowell has changed their minds – and perhaps their career path. Lowell is clearly a worthy recipient of this award.”
Reflecting on his personal teaching experiences, Lowell noted, “I often felt like I was on holy ground in the classroom as I listened to students wrestle with their convictions, core values, and explore how they wanted to live responsibly in this increasingly polarized and fractured world. Teaching is a profound and sacred privilege that I have been lucky to have had.” Lowell also expressed enormous appreciation to UWaterloo’s Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) for their assistance over the years. “I credit CTE with helping me transform from being a barely adequate teacher into one who enjoyed success in the classroom.”
Leaving a distinguished 23-year legacy in collaborative and innovative teaching, Lowell estimates that he has taught about 3,580 undergraduate students, supervised 160 undergraduates in independent study and internships, taught about 125 graduate students, and supervised 30 independent study and internships for graduate students. He has also helped to start the university teaching career of 22 individuals and has co-taught courses with nine different people. “When Lowell invites someone to teach, he not only gives them the opportunity, but he provides mentorship and support,” explained alumna, former PACS instructor, and current PACS academic advisor Rachel Reist. “He takes a chance on others and builds up their capacity.”
Trained as a lawyer, Lowell researches the ways that peace interacts with human rights, law, and civil society. His teaching and in-class discussions empower students to apply what they are learning in whatever vocation they find themselves. “Lowell made me believe that my ideas were important and that I could achieve just about anything I set out to do,” noted PACS student Taylor Legere. “His unwavering optimism and excitement about peace work helped me find my own excitement about helping the world be more peaceful.”
One key characteristic of Lowell’s exceptional teaching is his commitment to interdisciplinary study and promoting connections between subject areas to enhance student learning. This is exemplified in some of the courses he developed such as Peace and Disability, Peace and Policing, Math for Good and Evil, Peace is Everyone’s Business, Human Rights, and Peace and Business. As former Director of PACS for 20 years, Lowell also cultivated this perspective in others and encouraged the creation of other interdisciplinary courses.
“Lowell’s impact in the classroom is very evident,” added Grebel President Marcus Shantz, “but he was also a visionary director of the PACS program. He saw the linkages between academia, law, civil society, and business and brought these insights to bear on the needs of our world. This award at the end of his teaching career is well deserved.”
