Faculty and grad student recognized for excellence in teaching

Bob McKillop of civil and environmental engineering and Mark Pritzker of chemical engineering are two of four faculty members campus-wide to be recognized with the 2016 University of Waterloo Distinguished Teaching Award.

It’s just the second time in the history of the award that two engineering professors have been chosen in the same year to receive the honour.   

Since joining the university full time in 1999, McKillop, pictured right, has taught a

variety of courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. He is recognized for his one-on-one support of students, consistently high level of preparation, real world relevance in his courses, and setting demanding, but realistic standards.

​Pritzker, pictured left, is the teaching champion for chemical engineering. Nominators noted Pritzker’s natural ability to engage students, his organization of lectures, and his enthusiasm towards the course material – “it is impossible not to be impressed.”

The Distinguished Teacher Award was established in 1975 and was expanded in 1988 to include non-regular faculty members.

Graduate student recognized for exceptional teaching

Tiffany Bayley, a management sciences doctoral candidate, is one of four students campus-wide to be honoured with a 2016 Amit and Meena

Chakma Awards for Exceptional Teaching by a Student.

Bayley is recognized by students for her dedication and preparedness in her teaching roles for a variety of courses. One student remarked that “Bayley’s passion for teaching and deep expertise of the complex concepts [were] evident throughout the entire semester.”

The award, first established in 1998, was renamed in 2006 and recognizes “excellence in teaching by students who have a formal teaching role (e.g. teaching assistant, laboratory demonstrator, adjunct lecturer) at the University of Waterloo or its federated and affiliated university/colleges.”

McKillop, Pritzker and Bayley will be officially recognized at spring convocation in June.