The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) has recognized Professor Greg Evans (ChemE) as one of Ontario’s most outstanding university teachers. He will receive a 2014-2015 OCUFA Teaching Award at a ceremony in Toronto on October 24.
In addition to exemplary classroom teaching, Evans is a leader in the development of innovative educational initiatives and opportunities for undergraduate engineering students. He has developed new courses that go well beyond the delivery of technical content, including implementing unique collaborative assignments that encourage ‘success skills’ such as teamwork, professionalism, communication and leadership.
Evans has also made exceptional contributions as an educational leader. From 2003-2005 he served as chair of first year for the Faculty. He then served as vice-dean, undergraduate from 2005-2007. During this period he spearheaded significant curriculum development and added a number of new curricular and extracurricular learning opportunities. He steered the expansion of communication instruction (including the creation of the Engineering Communications Program) and the expansion and integration of design education into the curriculum.
He currently serves as associate director of the Institute for Leadership Education in Engineering (ILead). This program, which developed out of the previous Leaders of Tomorrow initiative, is unique in Canada, and perhaps beyond, in that it integrates leadership development through curricular and extracurricular facets of the engineering student experience.
Evans also spearheaded the creation of the Collaborative Program in Engineering Education (EngEd), which gives students and faculty the opportunity to explore learning concepts at the nexus between engineering and education, from the engineer’s perspective. He serves as inaugural director of the program.
“On behalf of our entire Faculty, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Professor Greg Evans on this richly deserved recognition,” said Dean Cristina Amon. “His dedication to excellence and innovation in engineering education has been critical to strengthening U of T Engineering’s curricular and co-curricular programs, enhancing our students’ technical and professional competencies to lead in a complex global engineering environment.”
Evans has been recognized for his teaching contributions with several prestigious awards and honours. These include the Joan E. Foley Quality of Student Experience Award and the Northrop Frye Award from U of T, the Engineers Canada Medal for Distinction in Engineering Education, the Alan Blizzard Award for collaborative teaching and the Faculty Teaching Award, U of T Engineering’s highest recognition for teaching. Earlier this year, he received the President’s Teaching Award, U of T’s highest teaching honour.
