Bettina von Lieres (supplied image)
Bettina von Lieres recognized with 2025 Global Educator Award
Published: March 28, 2025
Bettina von Lieres, an associate professor, teaching stream in the department of global development studies at U of T Scarborough, has been recognized with the 2025 Global Educator Award.
The annual award is given to faculty members who embody U of T’s global mission by fostering inclusive classrooms and preparing students with cross-cultural communication skills.
Von Lieres is recognized for her key role in U of T Scarborough’s international development co-op program, guiding students through immersive internships in the Global South. A leader in innovative teaching practices, she was an early adopter of virtual global classrooms well before the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated online learning.
“I aim to inspire my students to be brave and humble as they navigate complex global problems,” von Lieres said. “Working globally is not easy – it requires humility and being open to democratic learning practices. I take great pride that my students work incredibly hard to become the kind of global change-agents needed to confront critical global challenges.”
Mariana Mota Prado, U of T’s associate vice-president and vice-provost, international students, hailed von Lieres’s “dynamic and impressive” contributions. “She has developed a longstanding practice and pedagogy of globally immersing students and researchers into teaching spaces that cultivate intercultural exchange and inclusivity,” said Prado. “The breadth and depth of Bettina’s global teaching practices is precisely what this award seeks to exemplify."
