Departmental staff excel at YUSU Excellence in Teaching and Supervision Awards 2014
Posted on 4 July 2014
This event is a student-led celebration of excellence from across the University. This year saw a record level of engagement, with 525 nominations submitted by 402 individual students, showing the value that students place upon their education and the outstanding members of staff involved. A panel of judges drawn from the University, YUSU, and current students, awarded across 11 categories based on the strength of nominations.
Health Sciences staff received accolades in two different categories:
Gerri Kaufman won a Supervisor of the Year award. The student who nominated her said: “Gerri has helped keep our heads above water. She encourages us in such a way that her passion for education and nursing shine through.”
Cath Jackson and Helen Tilbrook shared a Supervisor of the Year award for their work. Their nomination detailed their numerous efforts in supporting their students to achieve their full potential: “I didn't believe I could do a dissertation, but they did. They were persistently encouraging when I was feeling rubbish; they helped a lot by being consistently positive, breaking work down into manageable chunks and helping me prioritise, and giving detailed, useful, and motivating feedback.”
Rachel Lavelle received an Inspirational Lecturer award for her work in the midwifery team. One of her students commented: “Rachel is an excellent lecturer who strives to make her lectures interesting and engaging. She is able to strike the balance between providing the relevant academic information required for her students learning whilst also utilising her vast personal experience from practice as a midwife.”
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Robinson, opened the event, which was hosted by the YUSU Academic Officer, Dan Whitmore. Awards were presented by staff and students, including Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Smith OBE, Deputy-Vice-Chancellor Dr Jane Grenville OBE, Vice-Chancellor Professor Koen Lamberts and department representatives David Sissons, Wesley Parkinson and Grace Winpenny. The Vice-Chancellor then closed the evening.