At yesterday’s meeting of the University's Senate. Associate Vice-President, Academic David DeVidi made the announcement of the Distinguised Teacher Awards for 2021. Among the four awardees was Professor Suzanne Kearns, from the Aviation program joint with the Fauclty of Environment.
One student notes, “Dr. Kearns always strived to provide us with the best knowledge and learning environment, challenging us academically, while empathetically supporting us in our passions and pursuits.”
Dr. Kearns encourages leadership in her students, and over the past two year has led efforts to create the Waterloo Aviation Research Cluster. She has also fostered a community of aviation students by helping to create the UW Aviation Society.
Dr. Kearns’ colleagues praise her dedication to student supervision, noting that she not only provides academic guidance to students but also strongly supports their career goals. Industry colleagues also praise her work, which “has not only had an impact beyond the classroom, it has had an impact around the world,” including extensive work with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a specialized agency of the United Nations and the source of international aviation safety standards and policy.
Dr Kearns has shown a deep passion for the aviation industry, and ensures that this passion translates into education for her students.
Since its inception in 1975, over 150 Distinguished Teacher Awards have been awarded to exemplary instructors at the University of Waterloo. The DTA is awarded to four instructors annually at the March meeting of Senate.