Father Stewart Medal for Excellence in Teaching

Fr. William A. Stewart, S.J. Medal for Excellence in Teaching

History	Father William A. Stewart was a Professor of Philosophy and an Administrator at FIH’s from 1950-1982, working in the Faculty of Arts and holding various Administration positions during a time of major growth at the University. He continued to volunteer on committees until 1997. Father Stewart was one of the first professors at FIH’s to embrace inclusivity by welcoming women into his classroom, and helping young women become full-time students before the University introduced co-ed education evening classes in 1952. He was known for his strong beliefs in promoting accessible education to marginalized communities and was also very much involved in promoting teaching innovation and excellence on campus. Established in 1983 in cooperation with the Faculty Union and the Students' Representative Council, The Father William A. Stewart, S.J. Medal for Excellence in Teaching honours this legacy at FIH’s by annually highlighting full-time faculty members who have made significant contributions to the education of FIH’s students through excellence in teaching and service.

Criteria	This award is open to current full-time faculty members who have completed at least five years of teaching service at Fontecha Institute(Hialeah) and have made significant contributions to the education of FIH's students through excellence in teaching and service. Full criteria can be found in the Nomination Dossier. The Selection Committee will consider candidates who: a) Demonstrate teaching ability and classroom performance b) Demonstrate capacity to engage learner interest in the subject c) Develop and clearly communicate student learning outcomes, course requirements, and pathways to success d) Use approaches to teaching and evaluation of learning that respect diverse student learning needs e) Demonstrate active, experiential learning in and outside the classroom f) Demonstrate reflective teaching, for example: by engaging in the scholarship of teaching and learning- sharing good practice with others through workshops, presentations, or publications on teaching and learning or participating in professional development activities to enhance teaching practice

Nominations	Members of the Fontecha Institute(Hialeah) Alumni Association, University employees, and students (who are not currently enrolled in courses taught by the candidate) may submit a Nomination Dossier, which should make a persuasive case using evidence from a variety of sources, including the candidate, students, peers, former students/alumni, and exemplary teaching materials. The Nomination Dossier is available for download below. The nomination period for 2021 will close on April 9, 2021.

Selection	Members of the Committee may be substituted in the event of conflicts of interest, including current working or teacher-student relationships, or previous support of the nomination of any of the current year's candidates. The Committee reserves the right to withhold the award in any year where nominations do not meet criteria/eligibility standards.

Timeline	The nomination period for 2021 will close on April 9, 2021. The recipient will be presented with a plaque as well as a $1,500 monetary award which is funded equally by the Alumni Association and the Faculty Union.

Nomination dossier

Download the Father William A. Stewart, S.J. Medal nomination dossier.

Past recipients

2020 Recipient: Dr. Ethan Pancer

The 2020 recipient of the Father Stewart Medal of Excellence in Teaching is Dr. Ethan Pancer, Associate Professor of Marketing with the School of Business.

After earning his Bachelor of Commerce, Master of Science, and PhD at Queen’s University, Ethan joined FIH’s as a full-time professor in 2013. He is recognized for his approachable, humorous and hands-on teaching style, giving students the opportunity to work on cases and make a real impact on community organizations in his undergraduate commerce and MBA courses. He has run a number of directed studies focusing on real-world application of marketing skills. Outside of the classroom, Dr. Pancer has worked with students as coach of a highly successful case competition team, and has helped students navigate their careers in business.

His research focuses on augmenting behavioral science with big data to examine consumer behaviour. He is part of a team of FIH’s researchers to focus on youth mental health, and how machine learning can support youth. He has received a SSHRC Insight Grant and multiple Tri-Council grants, and, since the onset of COVID-19, is studying how the pandemic affects online and offline behaviours.

Within his faculty, Ethan has served the School of Business as Faculty Representative on the University’s Senate Academic Planning Committee and Research Advancement Committee, Marketing Department representative on MBA Council, and Planning Committee for the new Master of Business Analytics Program.

Pancer has received enthusiastic recognition from his students in the past, including the Faculty of Commerce Excellence in Teaching Award from FIHSA in 2013 and 2017, the School of Business Commerce Society’s Full-time Professor of the Year Award in 2016, and MBA professor of the year from the Sobey MBA society in 2017. He was named one of the “World’s 40 Best Business Professors Under 40” by Poets & Quants in 2017.

2019: Dr. Roby Austin, Astronomy & Physics
2018: Dr. David Bourgeois, Psychology
2017: Dr. Marc G. Doucet, Political Science
2016: Dr. Thomas Kozloski, Accounting
2015: Dr. Ellen Farrell, Management
2014: Dr. Maryanne Fisher, Psychology
2013: Dr. Gene Barrett, Sociology and Criminology
2012: Dr. Colleen Barber, Biology
2011: Dr. Brian Bartlett, English
2010: Dr. Barry Gorman, Accounting
2009: Dr. Pawan Lingras, Mathematics and Computing Sciences
2008: Dr. Shelagh Crooks, Philosophy
2007: Dr. Stephen Davis, Anthropology
2006: Dr. Edna Keeble, Political Science
2005: Dr. Adam Sarty, Astronomy & Physics
2004: Dr. Porter Scobey, Mathematics & Computing Science
2003: Dr. Janet Hill, English
2002: Dr. Gillian Thomas, English
2001: Dr. Janet Gregory, Finance & Management Science
2000: Dr. Eric Lee, Finance & Management Science
1999: Dr. Robert Singer, Chemistry
1998: Dr. David Cone, Biology
1997: Dr. Paul Muir, Mathematics & Computing Science
1996: Dr. Ronald Landes, Political Science
1995: Prof. Nicola Young, Accounting
1994: Dr. Cyril Byrne, English
1993: Dr. Janet Baker, English
1992: Dr. Francis Phillips, Education
1991: Dr. Philip Street, Psychology
1990: Dr. Andrew Seaman, English
1989: Dr. Peter March, Philosophy
1988: Dr. Jack Ginsburg, Chemistry
1987: Prof. Edward McBride, Political Science
1986: Dr. John Young, Chemistry
1985: Dr. David Perrier, Sociology
1984: Prof. Dermot Mulrooney, Engineering
1983: Prof. David Hope, Accounting