Awards and Grants | Centre for Teaching Excellence

Centre for Teaching Excellence

Awards and Grants

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Awards & Grants

Teaching Excellence Awards

The Teaching Excellence Awards were created in 2018 to further Capilano University’s mandate as a teaching-focused institution, recognize outstanding faculty, and to communicate to internal and external community members the quality of educators employed at Capilano. The latter goal of quality education is a fundamental element of recruitment of students and faculty to this institution.

The Teaching Excellence Awards recognize excellence in teaching, as nominated by students. The nominations are adjudicated by committee according to the following criteria:

Transformation of learning;
Fostering a sense of learning community;
Supporting multiple means of engagement during in-person and remote learning;
Utilizing interactive teaching methods;
Valuing student perspectives and diverse ways of knowing and being;
Supporting health and wellbeing.

There are two nomination periods a year, one in the Fall and one in the Spring, with awards being announced in the Spring.

Read the full Terms of Reference here.

2025 Teaching Excellence Awards

It is our great pleasure to announce the recipients of the 2025 Teaching and Learning Excellence Awards at Capilano University. As a teaching-focused university, we could not be prouder of the exceptional response from students to this year’s call for nomination for the 2025 Teaching Excellence Awards. In the 430 detailed nominations received, students recognized the work of 214 faculty who inspired them with a distinct learning experience.

We are incredibly fortunate to have so many inspiring and dedicated instructors at Capilano University!

2025 Award Recipients

Meet CapU’s 2025 Teaching Excellence Award recipients.

Carolyn Neapole
Music Therapy

Faculty Quote

To love learning is to have a lifetime of possibility. I aspire to build empathetic relationships with students so they can feel safe enough to try, and brave enough to grow.

Student Quote

She meets us where we are, treating us like peers with her honesty, humility, and willingness to share her own mistakes to create a collaborative and safe learning environment.

Megan A. Smetzer
Art History

Faculty Quote

I guide transformative learning through supportive relationships built in the classroom and experiential arts excursions

Student Quote

I have new perspectives on so many topics thanks to Megan inviting us to think more creatively than we had ever done before.

Donna Perry
School of Kinesiology

Faculty Quote

Empathy, passion and patience are key in fostering a supportive environment, inspiring curiosity, encouraging a growth mindset and empowering students to actively engage in their own unique learning journey.

Student Quote

Donna is a mentor that genuinely cares about students learning journeys by offering a positive encouraging environment that makes learning feel meaningful and relevant.

Michael Thoma
School of Motion Picture Arts

Faculty Quote

I teach emerging artists how to tell stories in cinema – and then to understand why they want to tell those stories. This process requires creative and critical engagement in a space that develops their vision and their voice through innovation and imagination. The role of a filmmaker entails a certain responsibility and communicative integrity – and an understanding of the impact and context of their stories in the public sphere.

Student Quote

We were challenged but always felt respected through engaging lectures and hands-on weekly assignments that made the material exciting to apply.

Ivan Surjanovic
School of Business

Faculty Quote

Teaching begins by connecting with students and relating to their aspirations, needs, and concerns, then finding ways to engage and inspire them to learn and achieve more.

Student Quote

In our online class Ivan makes us feel heard and important, welcoming all comments and responding with positive feedback.

Meet previous years’ recipients in CapU Capsule Stories!
2024 Recipients | 2023 Recipients | 2022 Recipients | 2021 Recipients

Click here to see past TEA recipients.

Capilano University is named after Chief Joe Capilano, an important leader of the Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh) Nation of the Coast Salish people. We respectfully acknowledge that our campuses are located on the unceded sovereign Indigenous Nations of Lil’wat, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm(Musqueam), Shíshálh (Sechelt), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh(Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh).