Photo Courtesy / Pamela Lau

Cue the drumroll. The Underground presents the first-ever Professors of the Year awards to recognize superior faculty members that go above and beyond, inside and outside of the classroom. Students nominated professors and winners were decided based on the number and quality of the nominations. Who needs a Best Lecturer award, anyway?

Elizabeth Page-Gould (Psychology)

Courses taught: Social Psychology

After only two years at UTSC, Professor Page-Gould has become a student favourite. Her enthusiasm is infectious and her sincerity makes students feel like they matter. They appreciate her approachability and willingness to address each individual’s concerns. Outside of the classroom, Page-Gould has provided numerous opportunities for students to get involved in her laboratory, providing experience that is sometimes hard to find as an undergraduate student. Most of all, students applaud her for the visible effort that she puts into each and every lecture.

Rene Harrison (Biology)

Photo Courtesy / Eliyas Jeffay

Courses taught: Cell Biology, Special Topics in Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics

Students unanimously expressed praise for Professor Harrison’s ability to simplify extremely complex topics and make them accessible. She puts a tremendous amount of effort into her lectures, compliment lecture slides with visuals that keep students engaged. She always has a smile on her face, and uses her office hours to actively connect with students. As a bonus, her innovative research in bone cells is inspiring.

Photo Courtesy / Fashimul Hoque

Maria Assif (English)

Courses taught: Critical Writing about Literature, Contemporary Arab Women Writers, Arab North-American Literature, Topics in American Prose

One of the most loved professors of the English department, Professor Assif’s enthusiasm for her course material is always visible. More importantly, she is extremely passionate about teaching, and goes out of her way to make students feel comfortable and welcome. Her accommodating nature helps students excel in an environment that is conducive to learning and her high expectations teach students to raise the bar. She makes 9 a.m. classes bearable—enough said!

Raymond Grinnell (Calculus)

Photo Courtesy / Brandon Lu

Courses taught: Calculus for Management I and II, Introduction to Topology

Everyone knows that first-year calculus is a killer course, but Professor Grinnell makes it somewhat bearable. He’s articulate, helpful and entertaining and makes students want to come to class. He’s challenging, but never turns students away when they ask for help. Above all, students said that Grinnell isn’t just an outstanding professor, but a great person.

Jerri English (French)

Photo Courtesy / Brandon Lu

Courses taught: Language Practice I and II, Introduction to Literature in French I, Women and Film

What students love about Professor English is her unbelievable knowledge of the material she teaches—she is abl

e to answer just about any question that a student has. She is always available for individual meetings wi

th students, helping students to improve if they are having difficulty with course material. Students said that they learned more from English in one year than they did all through high school.

Roberta Rice (Political Science)

Photo Courtesy / Roberta Rice

Courses taught: Development Studies: Political and Historical Perspectives, Comparative Development in Political Perspective, Latin America: The Politics of the Dispossessed

Anyone who has taken a course with Professor Rice can vouch for the fact that she is incredibly organized, making a student’s job much easier. Her lectures are always thorough and she regularly goes the extra mile to make sure students stay on track.

The Underground congratulates all the professors who have been honoured this year on a job well done. Keep it up!