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Leadership in Teaching and Learning Award

 

2025 Recipients  |  Eligibility  |  Criteria  |  Nomination  |  Application  |  Past Recipients


The Leadership in Teaching and Learning Award recognizes and celebrates exemplary contributions in the mentorship of colleagues and students at Mount Royal. This prestigious award honours faculty members who demonstrate a deep commitment to fostering the growth and development of their peers and students in alignment with Mount Royal's vision of opening minds and changing lives.

Recipients of the Leadership in Teaching and Learning 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.

Up to two awards may be granted each year. 


 

2025 Award Recipients

 

Dr. Carol Armstrong

Dr. Carol Armstrong

Associate Professor

Department of Biology
Faculty of Science and Technology

 

Through curriculum development and course redesign, Dr. Carol Armstrong, PhD, has helped shape much of the curriculum in the Department of Biology since her arrival at Mount Royal in 2010. She recently contributed to the development of the Bachelor of Science in Biology Honours program for its first intake in Fall 2024.

Carol's work is guided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. She is purposeful in learning from and working alongside Indigenous Peoples, and exploring the intersection of Western and Indigenous science. For example, she collaborated with Piikani Nation Knowledge Holder Harley Bastien to develop BIOL 3201: Common Ground: Learning from the Land. In describing the impact of the course, one student wrote, “I feel like I’m bursting with questions. I feel like my eyes are finally open.”

Associate Dean Dr. Melanie Rathburn, PhD, credits Carol with pushing her students to engage in learning by analyzing, thinking critically and being descriptive. “This challenges students at the time, but they later recognize the value and skills that they develop, and I strongly believe that Carol’s pedagogical approach is what’s responsible for making biology students so successful after university.”


 

Dr. AnneMarie Dorland

Dr. AnneMarie Dorland

Associate Professor

Department of Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Social Innovation
Faculty of Business, Communication Studies and Aviation

 

Since starting her career as a graphic designer over two decades ago, Dr. AnneMarie Dorland, PhD, has evolved into an authority on marketing, branding and design thinking-based learning.

She joined Mount Royal in 2019 and quickly earned a reputation for making a profound impact on her students, including those in the capstone course MKTG 4850: Professional Brand Studio.

“Through MKTG 4850, AnneMarie not only encouraged my creativity, but helped . . . bring it to life through various creative exercises, agency/group meetings and workshops,” says Mount Royal alumnus Stan Nicastro. “Because of her, I am planning to pursue a career in branding, and until I had the chance to learn from her, that is not something I ever thought I could succeed at. She didn’t just teach me marketing, she taught me how to think creatively.”

In 2021, AnneMarie made a notable contribution to the pedagogy with Design Thinking Based Learning: A Teaching Guide, and later secured SSHRC funding for a study of design thinking and creativity.

AnneMarie's dedication extends beyond the classroom as she mentors student research assistants from across campus and drives pedagogical innovation through the development of new creativity-focused courses for both faculty and students.

 


2025 Awards Adjudication Committee

Member Title
Dr. Karim Dharamsi Vice-Provost Academic (Chair)
Dr. David Hyttenrauch Vice-Dean, Faculty of Arts
Dr. Adam Cave Vice-Dean, Faculty of Business and Communication Studies
Dr. Gaye Warthe Vice-Dean, Faculty of Health, Community and Education
Dr. Sara Hewitt Interim Associate Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology
Cari Merkley Associate Dean, University Library
Dr. David Clemis Academic Director, Liberal Education
Fiona Chetty Student representative

Award requirements

 


Past recipients

 

 


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.