2012 Faculty & Staff Awards
Eminent Service Award
Established in 1978, the Eminent Service Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the life of Trent University above and beyond excellence in carrying out their employment or volunteer responsibilities. It is normally awarded at the culmination of service to Trent. The award is presented on behalf of the Board of Governors, acting upon the recommendation of the Senate.
Dr. Deborah Berrill
Dr. Deborah Berrill has been affiliated with Trent University since 1989 when she began as acting director of the Trent-Queen’s Concurrent Education Program and then as program director from 1990-1998. In 2002 Dr. Berrill was hired as the founding director of Trent University’s School of Education and Professional Learning, a position she held until 2007. In 2004 she was promoted to full professor. Dr. Berrill’s teaching has been recognized at the institutional, provincial and national levels through her receipt of eight teaching awards over her career, including the Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching (1988), the 3M Teaching Fellowship (2006), and the Leadership in Faculty Teaching Award from the Government of Ontario (2007). Dr. Berrill’s programs, such as the Penpals Program, have also had a significant and positive impact on young students in the local school boards.
One nominator letter states, “Her approach to education is underpinned by her scholarship, including her understanding of feminist and education theories. In fact, it is not sensible to try to separate the strand of service from the other strands of educator and scholar. Together these three strands make a very strong braid.”
John Breukelaar
John Breukelaar began his career at Trent University in 1975 as a laboratory demonstrator and was promoted to senior lab demonstrator in 1985. In 1983, he received his Master of Science in Physics from Trent. In the 35 years he was employed by the University he enriched the lives of thousands of students. He has been a volunteer for the Peterborough Regional Science Fair since 1975 and organizer of extracurricular physics department events creating a sense of collegiality among physics students, staff and faculty.
Excerpts from a nomination letters read, “Mr. Breukelaar’s career with Trent represents a lifetime of contribution, and accomplishment beyond excellence. Thank you all these years for being the complete professional as our Senior Physics Demonstrator, mark advisor, counsellor and friend. Thank you for your thoroughness, fairness of judgement, and patience. Thank you for your deep understanding and sensitivity to our Trent culture and ways.”
Established in 1978, the Eminent Service Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the life of Trent University above and beyond excellence in carrying out their employment or volunteer responsibilities. It is normally awarded at the culmination of service to Trent. The award is presented on behalf of the Board of Governors, acting upon the recommendation of the Senate.
Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching
Established in 1976, the Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching is Trent's most distinguished teaching honour. The award is presented annually to a faculty or staff member who displays exemplary teaching, as well as exemplary concern for students.
Dr. Tom Hutchinson
Trent University is pleased to announce that the Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching will be presented to Dr. Tom Hutchinson on Thursday, June 7 at the 10:00 am ceremony.
Dr. Hutchinson joined Trent's Environmental and Resource Science/Studies program in January 1991 and was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus at the 2005 convocation ceremonies. Since his retirement, Dr. Hutchinson has continued to teach courses for the ERS Program and supervise honours reading courses, honours projects, and graduate theses. Last year, Dr. Hutchinson supervised four honours projects, three in studies related to Sudbury area ecosystem recovery from air pollution impacts and one on community food opportunities in Peterborough. His research interests include the impacts of pollutants, such as acid rain, sulphur dioxide, heavy metals and ozone on natural and agricultural ecosystems and the restoration of seriously contaminated abandoned mine sites at Sudbury and in the Yukon, which has helped his involvement in the Trent-Fleming Ecological Restoration degree program.
One nominator letter states: "His students are the ones who will think critically, deal with complexity, solve problems, think across disciplines, communicate effectively with multiple stakeholders, engage in future oriented thinking, use systems thinking and ethical decision making, work effectively in teams and diverse environments and engage with the community. They will also be the risk takers: the ones who will challenge the status quo, who will think differently."
» Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching Press Release 2012
Distinguished Research Award
Established in 1986, the Distinguished Research Award is given annually to a member of the Trent University faculty in recognition of outstanding achievement in research and scholarship.
Trent University is please to announce that the Distinguished Research Award will be presented to Dr. Jacqueline Solway on Thursday, June 7 at the 10:00 am ceremony.
Dr. Jacqueline Solway completed her Ph.D. at the University of Toronto in Anthropology. Her dissertation was entitled "Commercialization and Social Differentiation in a Kalahari Village, Botswana." After a year as a research affiliate at Yale University, Professor Solway was hired as an assistant professor in Comparative Development Studies at Trent University and subsequently became Professor of International Development Studies and Anthropology. She is regarded as one of Canada's foremost Cultural Anthropologists and has an international reputation as an expert on the San (Bushmen) of the Kalahari and as a leading authority in the areas of rural livelihoods, socioeconomic change, ethnic identity and democracy in Botswana.
One nominator letter states: "Her research continues to be creative, reflective and important. I have known her only through her publications. When I see her name attached to a paper I know that it will be worthwhile reading, that I will learn something new and be forced to reflect."
» Distinguished Research Award Press Release 2012
