Dr. Brenda Lee has been awarded the inaugural Excellence in Teaching Award presented by the Science Society (SciSoc).
SciSoc is the Faculty of Science student government and operates as a volunteer-based student society at Waterloo. Nominated and voted on by science students, this award is given to an instructor who builds a welcoming community in the classroom and goes the extra mile to ensure students feel supported in their learning.
Samantha Fancy and Makenzie Campbell are the VP Academic with SciSoc and the driving force behind this award. They wanted to find a way for students to thank instructors who helped them learn and grow during their time at Waterloo. It took months to establish the award, and they hope it will continue for years to come.
“We want to recognize the instructors who have pushed us to be better scientists, connect with ourselves and our peers, and motivated us by doing what they love,” says Campbell.
Lee was overwhelmingly selected as the award’s inaugural honouree. “I’ve never known another person to dedicate so much of her working and free time to helping students,” says one nomination. “Lee’s classes are extremely accommodating, she puts students first, and she actively makes the Waterloo community better.”
Lee is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream and serves as an undergraduate advisor and Associate Chair, Undergraduate Studies in the Physics and Astronomy department. She completed her undergraduate degree and PhD here at Waterloo, and overcoming her own challenges in her studies has given her a unique perspective on how students learn.
Anyone who has stepped into her classroom knows that Lee is the kind of professor who doesn’t shy away from talking about life struggles – and likes to throw in some Pokémon and pop culture for good measure! She teaches the way she would have liked to be taught, with clearly organized notes, deadline reminders, lecture recordings, and lots of practice problems and office hours.
"This award means a lot to me because it comes from students,” says Lee. “I care deeply about creating a safe learning environment where it's okay to struggle, ask questions and grow – especially when the content is tough and hard to digest sometimes. But truthfully, I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without my students. Every class, every interaction, and every question helps me become a better teacher. This award reflects that shared journey more than anything else."
Congratulations, Dr. Lee!
Samantha Fancy (left) and Makenzie Campbell (right), VP Academic with SciSoc, present Dr. Brenda Lee (middle) with the inaugural SciSoc Excellence in Teaching Award.
