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Innovative Pedagogies Award
Eligibility | Criteria | Nomination | Application | Past Recipients
The Innovative Pedagogies Award is a prestigious recognition designed to honour faculty members who have exemplified exceptional innovation as an expression of their commitment to teaching and learning. This award celebrates those educators who have made remarkable contributions to the enrichment and evolution of classroom work, curriculum design, work integration, and experiential learning.
Recipients of this award are distinguished by their creative and forward-thinking approaches to education, which are not only reflective of but also significantly contribute to Mount Royal's strategic emphasis on liberal education, experiential learning and transformative practices in the classroom. These educators have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to enhancing student engagement, fostering critical thinking and nurturing a passion for lifelong learning among their students.
The Innovative Pedagogies Award is not merely a recognition of past achievements but also a testament to the ongoing influence these faculty members have in shaping a future generation of learners and leaders. It underscores MRU’s commitment to excellence in teaching and its dedication to providing an education that is both meaningful and transformative.
Recipients of the Innovative Pedagogies Award receive a monetary award of $500 (choice of a cash honorarium, professional development funds or donation to a Mount Royal scholarship), a letter signed by the provost and vice-president, academic, and a framed certificate.
Award recipients are also recognized on Mount Royal's Faculty Excellence Awards website and at the Faculty Excellence Celebration in May. They may also be recognized through other channels.
2026 Innovative Pedagogies Award Recipients
Dr. Christopher Grignard
Dr. Christopher Grignard, PhD, uses three words – Desire to Indigenize – to express his personal position, mission, and vision, as reflected on his curriculum vitae and Blackfoot Odyssey learning website.
Concise and ambitious, “desire,” as Grignard describes it, functions as both a verb and a noun: a call to action and a reflection of the Indigenization he seeks to advance at Mount Royal, where he has served as an assistant professor of Indigenous literatures since 2022.
The work recognized here reflects four years at MRU, informed by a longstanding 16-year relationship with Blackfoot (Kainai) Elder and ceremonialist Joe Eagle Tail Feathers (Iitsooahp’potah). In collaboration with Joe and Academic Development Centre (ADC) colleague Khethwen Woo, Chris made substantive progress across several teaching and learning innovations:
- Digitizing, incorporating, and protecting the design and story of Joe’s tipi for his Indigenous courses — Chris transformed D2L Brightspace into an authentic sacred digital space. The design demonstrated a move beyond standard institutional templates and created a personalized and Indigenized learning platform.
- Re-conceptualizing ENGL 3353 North American Indigenous Literatures — He formulated an “alternative syllabus” reflecting his ceremonial course framework, one he regards as being a sacred Indigenous literary lodge.
- Developing new curriculum, Blackfoot Odyssey, including six newly-recorded video stories produced by Academic Media Group and based on Joe’s real-life experiences at several Blackfoot sacred sites — Chris created a learning unit incorporating Indigenous-informed experiential learning and reflective observation while advancing efforts to indigenize MRU’s Immersion Studio space as well as the traditional classroom.
“[Chris’] design supports students in becoming careful readers and thoughtful thinkers . . . Students are invited to reflect on their responsibilities as learners on Treaty 7 territory, to engage diverse perspectives with humility, and to develop judgement they can carry into their communities and professional lives,” says Dr. John Cheeseman, EdD, a learning technologies specialist in the ADC. “This is transformational educational practice because it changes not only what students learn, but how they understand learning itself.”
Dr. Nausheen Sadiq
Dr. Nausheen Sadiq’s, PhD, academic journey encouraged her to better understand the world around her by asking important scientific questions, and now she is inspiring the same curiosity in the next generation of Mount Royal scientists.
Since arriving at MRU in 2021, Nausheen has created and then reshaped CHEM 4301, Advanced Analytical Chemistry, into a Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) that conveys the benefits and weight of an honours thesis by integrating novel research and advanced instruments. Since the revamp, students design and manage their own projects and present findings at research days and international conferences. Several manuscripts are in development.
Nausheen tailors feedback methods not only in the lab but also in the classroom, holding weekly quizzes to provide continuous feedback, first done individually and then as a group. The exercise is followed by an instructor-led review in which her students peer-grade the quizzes, helping them understand her grading approach, reinforcing key concepts and cultivating peer learning.
Student Learning Services’ Lauren Cross, who has worked with Nausheen to enhance student feedback, support and scaffolding, describes Nausheen’s approach to revising classroom activities and assessments as “insightful, open-minded, and enthusiastic.” The impact of her work is clear. As one student remarks, “CHEM 4301 was by far the most effective class for providing me with skills that are transferable into academia and industry.” She adds, “Upon completing Nausheen’s course, I had quite literally stepped into the role of a researcher. This experience was exactly what I was missing in my journey towards completing my degree and entering the real world.”
Nausheen also received MRU’s Undergraduate Research Supervision Award in 2025.
Awards Requirements
Eligibility
All faculty who are defined as Employees in Mount Royal's faculty collective agreement are eligible for this award.
All candidates for this award must be nominated.
A nominated faculty member may apply for and be granted more than one Faculty Excellence Award in a given academic year. However, a faculty member may only apply for and be granted ONE award within EACH award category (Distinguished Faculty Awards, Teaching and Learning Awards, and Research Recognition Awards) in a given academic year.
A faculty member may not be granted the same Faculty Excellence Award more than once in a lifetime. This applies to all awards in the Faculty Excellence Awards program.
Criteria
Nominees are assessed on the demonstration of excellence in one or more of the following:
- Innovative curriculum design
- Experiential learning and work integration
- Pedagogical innovation
- Advancement of liberal education
- Transformational educational practices
Innovative curriculum design
- Play a pivotal role in designing or revamping curriculum that is both challenging and relevant, integrating contemporary issues and interdisciplinary perspectives.
- Skillfully balances theoretical knowledge with practical application, ensuring that the curriculum remains dynamic and responsive to the evolving needs of the industry and society.
Experiential learning and work integration
- Excels in embedding experiential learning opportunities within one's teaching practices.
- Provides students with invaluable real-world experiences that complement and enhance their classroom learning through internships, community projects or hands-on research.
Pedagogical innovation
- Utilizes a range of pedagogical tools and techniques — from technology-enhanced learning environments to collaborative learning spaces — to create a more inclusive, engaging and effective learning experience for students.
Advancement of liberal education
- Champions the development of well-rounded, critical thinkers, in alignment with Mount Royal's commitment to liberal education.
- Encourages cross-disciplinary learning and cultivates an environment where diverse viewpoints and ideas are explored and respected.
Transformational educational practices
- Embraces and integrates transformative educational practices beyond traditional teaching methods.
- Challenges students to think critically, engage deeply with their subjects and emerge as empowered, knowledgeable individuals who are ready to contribute to their communities and professions.
Nomination
Please carefully review the eligibility and criteria for the Innovative Pedagogies Award, along with the following information, before submitting a nomination.
Eligibility to nominate
Nominations can be submitted by any student, employee or alumni of Mount Royal University, excluding any members of a Faculty Excellence Awards adjudication committee in the current adjudication year.Self-nominations are not accepted.
Requirements
- All nominations must be seconded by a full-time or contract faculty member who is not a member of a Faculty Excellence Awards adjudication committee.
- Nominations should be accompanied by a statement that includes the reasons for the nomination (maximum 500 words). Specific reference should be made, where possible, to the nominee's qualifications relative to the criteria.
- Nominations should be submitted to the Office of the Provost and must be completed using the nomination form provided on this webpage during the nomination period.
- An mtroyal.ca email address is required to complete a nomination form. Anonymous emails or testimonials will not be accepted.
Application
Application process
- All candidates for this award must be nominated.
- The selection committee receives and reviews all nominations to confirm eligibility.
- Eligible nominees are invited to apply for the award. They are supplied with detailed application instructions.
- Applicants have approximately three to four weeks to submit their applications.
- The selection committee reviews the applications and selects the award recipients.
- All applicants receive a decision letter from the selection committee.
- Award recipients are expected to be announced by mid-April.
Application package
Detailed instructions, an application form (in Google Forms) and a dossier template (in Google Docs) will be provided to nominees who are invited to apply. All application materials are to be submitted in PDF format.
The application package includes:
Dossier document (maximum seven pages):
- Cover letter that articulates how the applicant meets the chosen award criteria, including their most relevant significant achievements
- Teaching philosophy statement
- Summary of three (3) SPoT evaluations from the past three years
Additional documents:
- Current Curriculum Vitae (any CV format is accepted – an MRU CV is not required)
- Up to two (2) signed letters of support. Letters may be provided by individuals, internal or external to Mount Royal, who are familiar with the nominee’s work and contributions. Applicants are asked to refrain from requesting letters from tenurable faculty members.
- Up to three (3) other supporting documents, if necessary (e.g., course outlines, chair and peer evaluations etc.)
2026 Teaching and Learning Awards Adjudication Committee
| Member | Title |
| Dr. Karim Dharamsi | Vice-Provost Academic (Chair) |
| Dr. Nancy Ogden | Vice-Dean, Curriculum, Policy and Planning, Faculty of Arts |
| Dr. Adam Cave | Vice-Dean, Faculty of Business and Communication Studies |
| Dr. Giuliana Harvey | Interim Vice-Dean, Faculty of Health, Community and Education |
| Dr. Melanie Rathburn | Vice-Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology |
| Katharine Barrette | Associate Dean, Public Services, University Library |
| Dr. David Clemis | Academic Director, Liberal Education |
| Tala Abu Hayyaneh | REC President, SAMRU |
Past recipients
Dr. Katharine McGowan
Associate Professor
Department of Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Social Innovation
Faculty of Business, Communication Studies and Aviation
It is her approach to teaching systems and its profound impact on students that has propelled Dr. Katharine McGowan, PhD, to help advance Mount Royal’s reputation as a centre of changemaking, influencing national and international communities of practice.
Katharine embeds systems thinking into social innovation education, ensuring that students develop the analytical and strategic skills to address complex challenges.
“Dr. McGowan’s courses . . . are designed to help students understand the interconnected nature of social issues and equip them with the tools to drive meaningful change,” says Ashley Dion, a former student of Katharine’s and lead for Map the System Canada, a global competition that demands students and educators rethink social and environmental issues. “She seamlessly integrates theoretical foundations with practical applications, enabling students to see beyond linear problem-solving and engage with complexity in a productive way.”
Dr. Laura Atkinson
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
Faculty of Science and Technology
Fostering transformative learning experiences through creative curriculum design and adopting pedagogical approaches to promote critical thinking are signature strategies of Dr. Laura Atkinson, PhD.
Laura, who joined Mount Royal as a sessional lecturer in the Department of Biology in 2011 and became an assistant professor in 2022, redesigned BIOL 2203: Human Anatomy to transform the course into a lab-focused, hands-on learning experience that promotes a deep understanding over memorization.
Using an innovative approach to scaffolding the curriculum, in which each topic has two lectures and one lab, Laura’s goal is to support students in retaining essential knowledge that encourages a desire for more learning, rather than a dread of the content-heavy course.
“Dr. Atkinson’s contributions included mapping the anatomy and physiology curriculum across the biology program and making sure BIOL 2203 fits appropriately among other courses in the Biology degree,” says department chair Dr. Jon Mee, PhD. “This contribution went beyond the one course that was the focus of the redesign and provided a substantial service to the whole department.”
Laura has also developed Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) for multiple courses, enabling students to gain research experiences that foster critical thinking and scientific inquiry skills.
Dr. Giuliana Harvey
Associate Professor
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Faculty of Health, Community and Education
Dr. Giuliana Harvey is an associate professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery. As a leader and innovator in the program, Giuliana looks for ways to improve student outcomes by developing various pedagogical tools and techniques, such as technology-enhanced learning environments, to create inclusive and effective learning experiences.
In addition, she has played a pivotal role in revamping the curriculum in the Nursing program by integrating a focus on contemporary challenges and opportunities, such as diversity and inclusion, consistency in lab courses, enhancing clinical learning contracts, and student E-Portfolios.
Guiliana also made a significant positive impact on her students during the COVID-19 pandemic. One student remarked “Dr. Harvey’s organization and adaptability to the online learning environment was remarkable. She facilitated online classroom opportunities that continued to engage me with my peers and stimulated thought-provoking discussions despite the lack of personal connectivity. “
Giuliana’s program of research is focused on undergraduate nursing student stress and well-being. Her overarching goal is to empower students through the development of personalized stress management tools and coping mechanisms.
Her commitment to student success and ability to integrate cutting-edge scholarly work into nursing education makes Guiliana a deserving recipient of this award.
Lavinia Moldovan
Associate Professor
Department of Economics, Justice, and Policy Studies
Faculty of Arts
Lavinia Moldovan is an associate professor in the Department of Economics, Justice and Policy Studies. Her work in the field of economics connects her to experiential learning, pedagogical innovation, advancement of liberal education and transformational educational practices. How she creates these connections is truly innovative.
Teaching economics relies heavily on mathematical models, and Lavinia believes that students need to be exposed to complementary methods of instruction to grasp certain concepts. Combining traditional and non-traditional methods in teaching economic concepts, Lavinia encourages students to make connections between their own world or lived experiences and economic theory. They are also challenged to find imaginative ways to convey economic concepts in practice, to ensure they understand how economic concepts are presented in daily life and in the economic decisions that we make.
One academic, who saw Lavinia present her ideas on the use of photography assignments in economics at an international conference says, “(this approach)…is now a fundamental part of my toolkit. Her pedagogy has shaped the way I teach, and more importantly, the way students learn.”
Lavinia’s innovative ideas go beyond traditional teaching methods and allow her to develop new ideas for her practice and new opportunities for experiential learning.
Return to Faculty Excellence Awards
The Faculty Excellence Awards are administered through Academic Affairs, as part of Mount Royal’s Celebrate U framework for employee rewards and recognition.