The Faculty recognizes two full-time tenure track faculty members each year with a prize of $5,000 and a plaque awarded at convocation.
Eligibility
All faculty members who hold a full-time tenured or tenure-track appointment are eligible for a Killam Faculty Teaching Prize. A faculty member may be nominated more than once. (Please note that previous Killam Prize recipients may be nominated if 10 years have passed since the prize was awarded.)
Nominations
Call for nominations now open for 2026/27.
Nomination Process — Department/School Deadline
The nomination package (PDF) must provide the following in the order outlined:
- One letter of nomination indicating the case for awarding a teaching prize to the nominee (may be signed by more than one nominator) addressed to the Department Head or Director. The letter should clearly address the four criteria outlined above with specific examples for each, using the template provided. Faculty and students wishing to nominate a faculty member are encouraged to start early and consult their Department Head or Director as the nomination process proceeds.
- The person nominated should submit:
- one-page teaching philosophy,
- two-page description of how he/she/they meet/s the four criteria with examples, using the template,
- CV that addresses teaching, e.g., with specific references to how various sections support teaching and learning (limited to 15 pages).
- Up to six support letters (maximum of two pages each) may be attached to the nomination package. Individual letters (may be from more than one person) should clearly focus on one or more of the criteria. Nominators are encouraged to submit a set of letters that represent the diversity of the nominee’s teaching responsibilities. Anything beyond this page limit will not be accepted.
The nomination package must be sent electronically to the Department Head or Director by February 5, 2027.
Nomination Process – Faculty Deadline
Departments and the School will follow their own internal processes, establish their own internal deadline and choose one nomination to forward to the Faculty level committee.
Departments and the School will refine the nomination package so it adheres to the number and length of letters and other materials. Nomination packages must be limited to what is outlined in Item #3. Additional material will not be considered during the adjudication process.
The Department Head or Director will submit the nomination package from the Department/School to the Chair of the Killam Teaching Prize Committee, Dr. Karen Ragoonaden, Associate Dean, Teacher Education Office, by February 19, 2027.
Recipients
- Dr. Anwar Ahmed (LLED), 2025/26
- Dr. Jasmin Ma (KIN), 2025/26
- Dr. Leyton Schnellert (EDCP), 2025/26
- Dr. Sofia Noori (EDCP), 2024/25
- Dr. Carolyn McEwan (KIN), 2023/24
- Drs. Jillian Code and Robert VanWynsberghe (EDCP), 2021/22
- Dr. Joanna Cannon (ECPS), 2020/21
- Drs. Deborah Butler (ECPS) and Judith Walker (EDST), 2019/20
- Drs. Margot Filipenko (LLED) Samuel D. Rocha (EDST), 2018/19
- Drs. Karen Meyer (EDCP) and Cash Ahenakew (EDST), 2017/18
- Drs. Anita Hubley (ECPS) and Michelle Stack (EDST), 2016/17
- Dr. Margaret Early (LLED) and Joseph Lucyshyn (ECPS), 2015/16
In recognition of the significant contribution that Sessional and Lecturer faculty members make to our programs, the Faculty of Education offers a Sessional and Lecturer Faculty Teaching Prize to outstanding educators. The prize includes both a plaque and $1000 and is awarded at the year-end Faculty meeting in May.
Eligibility
The award is open to any individual holding an appointment as a Sessional, Lecturer or Adjunct Teaching Professor (seconded teacher) during the current academic year. While previous award winners are not eligible, previous nominees are encouraged to reapply.
Nominations
Call for nominations is now open for 2026/27.
Nomination Process — Department/School Deadline
The nomination package (PDF) must provide the following in the order outlined:
- One letter of nomination indicating the case for awarding a teaching prize to the nominee should be sent to the Department Head/Director. The letter should clearly address the four criteria outlined above with specific examples for each, using the template provided. Faculty and students wishing to nominate a faculty member are encouraged to start early and consult with their Department Head/Director as the nomination process proceeds.
- Up to six support letters (maximum of two pages each) may be included in the nomination package (PDF). These letters should represent the diversity of the nominee’s teaching responsibilities.
- The nominee should include a one-page teaching philosophy statement as well as a CV.
The nomination package must be sent electronically to the Department Head or Director by February 5, 2027:
Nomination Process — Faculty Deadline
Each department/school will follow its own internal review processes and may choose to submit more than one nomination to the Faculty level committee.
The Department Head/Director will submit the nomination package along with a cover letter that includes a longitudinal review of the nominee’s teaching performance (using course evaluation information) and any other pertinent information to the Chair of the Sessional and Lecturer Faculty Teaching Prize Committee, Dr. Karen Ragoonaden, Associate Dean, Teacher Education Office, by February 19, 2027.
Recipients
- Dr. Angela Low (ECPS), 2025/26
- Dr. Liana Appelt (EDST), 2024/25
- Dr. Kari Grain (EDST), 2023/24
- Dr. Nasrin Kowkabi (LLED), 2022/23
- Dr. Yanning (Anna) Dong (LLED), 2020/21
- Dr. Karen Lee (EDCP), 2019/20
- Steve McGinley (EDCP), 2018/19
- Dr. Bathseba Opini (EDST), 2017/18
- Won Kim (LLED), 2016/17
- Dave Smulders, 2015/16
This award recognizes full-time and sessional faculty, staff and other persons associated with the Faculty of Education who have made an outstanding contribution to the teacher education program at UBC. The recipient will receive a plaque along with a Pendleton blanket. In addition, the recipient’s name will be displayed in the Faculty alongside other recipients of the award.
Nominations
The nomination package should include three letters of nomination that address the following criteria:
- The recipient will have shown exceptional dedication, leadership skills, and commitment to the ongoing improvement of the UBC teacher education program over an extended period of time.
- A detailed overview of the nominee’s accomplishments and/or contribution to the teacher education program.
Nomination in one year does not restrict the individual from being nominated in subsequent years; however, an individual may only receive the award once. Nominators are encouraged to submit nominations as early as possible.
Nominations must be submitted to najmeh.bahrami@ubc.ca with attention to:
Dr. Karen Ragoonaden
Associate Dean, Teacher Education
Chair, Awards Committee (Murray Elliott Service Award)
Teacher Education Office
Room 103-2125 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4
Nominations are currently closed.
Recipients
- Dr. Terry Taylor (RRED), 2025
- Dr. Andrea Webb (EDCP), 2024
- Alexis Okabe (NITEP), 2023
- Patrick Robertson (EDCP), 2022
- Yvonne Dawydiak (TEO) and Dr. Bathseba Opini (EDST), 2021
- John Yamamoto (TEO), 2020
- Dr. Rita Irwin (EDCP), 2019
- Dr. Kendrick James (LLED), 2018
- Dr. Marianne McTavish (LLED), 2017
- Jo-Anne Naslund (Education Library), 2016
- Dr. Jan Hare (LLED), 2015
Nominating Teacher Candidates for Student BEd Awards:
Faculty advisors and course instructors may nominate teacher candidates each year in the Bachelor of Education program. For deadlines and nomination forms, please visit this page.