SACKVILLE, NB – Toni Roberts, Director of the Purdy Crawford Teaching Centre, and Dr. Susan (Susie) Andrews, Department of Religious Studies, have been named 3M National Teaching Fellows. Established by the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) in 1986, the award recognizes exceptional teachers in post-secondary institutions across the country. Ten recipients are recognized annually.

Mount Allison Provost and Vice-President, Academic and Research Dr. Jeff Hennessy says the recognition is well-deserved.

“Dr. Andrews and Professor Roberts are outstanding educators, and I am delighted to see their contributions recognized nationally with this prestigious award. Their dedication to academic excellence and innovation has made a significant impact in shaping Mount Allison’s future. We are proud to have them as members of our university community.”

Toni Roberts has been at Mount Allison since 2004. Before stepping into their current role, they were the Educational Technology Consultant and taught in the departments of sociology, psychology, and geography and environment. They hold degrees in chemistry, sociology, education, feminist studies, and philosophy, as well as a PhD Certificate in Teaching, Learning, and Pedagogical Innovation and a PhD (ABD) in sociology. Roberts teaches courses in gender, sexuality, digital sociology and sociology of the body.

Roberts has contributed their expertise in post-secondary teaching and learning to various organizations such as the Association of Atlantic Universities, the Society of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, and the Maple League of Universities. In 2022, they were co-awarded the D2L/STLHE National Teaching Innovation Award.

“I’m thrilled to have been recognized by my peers in this way, and delighted to share the honour with Susie,” says Roberts. “I look forward to working with our 3M National Teaching Fellow cohort in the coming months and years.”

Beginning this June, award winners from across the country will develop a collaborative project generously supported by 3M Canada.

An internationally-recognized scholar of East Asian religions and narrative, Andrews’ genuine passion is university teaching. She delights in co-creating opportunities for the individuals in her courses to learn through reflection on doing, both locally and globally.  She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2021 Herbert and Leota Tucker Teaching Award, a 2022 Paul Paré Award, and a 2022 AAU Distinguished Teaching Award. In 2022, she was elected to the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) 2022 College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists.

“I'm overjoyed and honoured to be recognized as a 3M National Teaching Fellow alongside my colleague Toni, a stellar educator and wonderful human,” says Andrews. “And, I am profoundly thankful for the generous support my students and I have received for transformative learning opportunities from organizations such as BDK Canada, CEWIL Canada, the Khyentse Foundation, and Future NB. My experience as a Mount Allison University student was extraordinary. Today, 25 years after I joined the MtA community as an undergraduate, I wake up every day astonished, excited, and deeply grateful to be able to continue my learning from and with students here as a faculty member.”

Both Mount Allison graduates, Roberts and Andrews are co-directing the University’s new program, THRIVE — Transformation in Higher Education with Radical Inclusion, Values, and Engagement — aimed at supporting incoming first-year students in flourishing as academics and as humans.

“It’s an important time in post-secondary education,” says Roberts. “Mount Allison is making significant strides towards community engaged learning, experiential learning, rethinking pedagogy, implementing universal design, all of which are integral to the 3M National Teaching Fellowship Award as well as the THRIVE program. It’s interesting to see it all converging at the same time.”

THRIVE was envisioned and developed by Roberts and Andrews in partnership with students, faculty, and staff.

“I'm hopeful that we will be able to bring some of what we learn through our participation in the 3M National Teaching Fellowship to the THRIVE program we are co-imagining and co-designing with students, faculty, and colleagues from across the University and our community, including experts in Experiential Learning and Career Preparation, Academic Support, Health and Wellness, and members of our International Centre, and the award-winning  Meighen Centre team,” says Andrews. “Collaborations across our campus and our community like this one have transformed my approach to teaching and helped me become a more compassionate and learner-centered educator,” she says. “They have absolutely shaped me into a better professor.”

The 3M National Teaching Fellowship is the only pan-Canadian, cross-disciplinary recognition of educational leadership and excellence in post-secondary teaching.

Eleven Mount Allison professors have been named 3M Teaching Fellows during their time at the University. This is the second time Mount Allison has been recognized twice in one year. Professors Emeriti Alex Fancy (‘61) and Dr. Robert Hawkes (’72, ‘78) were co-winners in 1988.

Read more about the 2023 3M Teaching Fellows at: https://macleans.ca/education/teaching-fellowship-awards/