President's Awards for Distinguished Teaching

President’s Awards for Distinguished teaching recognize the teaching excellence in the university community. Each recipient of the teaching award receives a $5,000 grant made possible in part by a contribution from the Memorial University Alumni Association.

Dr. Jean Finney-Crawley

A dedicated teacher who inspires her students to excel in the study of science, Dr. Jean Finney-Crawley is one of the President's Awards of 2000 recipients of Distinguished Teaching. Combining a high level of preparation and clarity of presentation, Dr. Finney-Crawley is one of the biology department’s most popular teachers. She has been very involved in the development of the biology program, written new courses for the senior level and is currently undergraduate officer responsible for continued development of the biology undergraduate program.

In nominating Dr. Finney-Crawley, her colleagues in the biology department pointed out that what makes her an exceptional teacher is her concern for her students.

"She is a very caring person and the students who have had direct contact with her admire her greatly and are truly inspired," writes one.

This message was echoed by former students.

"She made biology exciting and inspired me to pursue a bachelor of science degree with a major in biology," wrote one. "She was always helping students, myself included, in the associated laboratory sessions.

"She was easy to approach and I did not feel intimidated by her presence as a first-year student."

Dr. Rick Johnstone

Volumes have been written on pedagogical method, and what makes a good teacher. But the words of Dr. Rick Johnstone’s students speak more eloquently than any book.

"Another student told me I should take Social Inequality (Sociology 2100) because the course was interesting, and the prof was an incredible instructor," said one. "He expected us to work hard, but what we got back from him was well worth it: a class environment where we could ask anything, where we were all equal, and any idea was welcome."

Ask his former students about Dr. Johnstone’s classes, and the answers are remarkably consistent. He arrives early, flow charts on the board and ready to discuss the issues of the day with class members. He knows his students’ backgrounds. He values their ideas. He makes time for them in a dozen different ways, from one-on-one discussions about term papers to copying material for his classes. None of his students are at all surprised to hear that Rick Johnstone was awarded one of Memorial University’s distinguished teaching awards for 2000, although a few wonder why it took so long.

The person at the centre of all this admiration is very modest about the whole thing — so modest, in fact, that he was at first reluctant about being interviewed. "Of course, I am very honoured to receive such an award from such a fine university," he said. "But there are so many good teachers here that I feel a bit awkward accepting this."

While Dr. Johnstone has an international reputation for his research on apartheid in South Africa, and currently writes on other human rights issues, he says "the classroom is the heart of the university – especially the seminar class. The give and take of ideas, of learning ... it’s been that way since Socrates." Furthermore, he added, "Teaching isn’t just about communicating in the classroom, it’s about students as people and learning who they are and where they are from. If students find teachers don’t care about them, the class isn’t as valuable, either for them or for the teacher."

He feels he has a lot to be thankful for. "I feel grateful that my students would take the time and trouble to nominate me," he said, and added later, "I am proud to be part of such a good department, such a good university, in such a special place ... I’m especially lucky

to have been part of a great department. That’s part of your everydayworld of work ... it affects everything you do."