Mairi Cowan recognized with OCUFA Teaching Award

Mairi Cowan, an associate professor, teaching stream, in the department of historical studies at the University of Toronto Mississauga, has been named one of Ontario’s most outstanding university teachers.

She has received a 2020-2021 Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) Teaching Award.

“Mairi Cowan loves to teach, and students praise her for respecting them as collaborators in the classroom,” said Edmund Pries, the chair of OCUFA’s award committee. “Her passion for history, attentiveness to the needs of her students, and her creativity exemplify the effectiveness of her approach to education.”

A historian of the late medieval and early modern world specializing in the social and religious histories of New France and Scotland, Cowan was also recognized recently for excellence in teaching with primary sources.

During the pandemic, Cowan balanced live and recorded teaching. For her large first-year history course, she pre-recorded her weekly lecture in four or five short parts interspersed with activities, such as watching a video or exploring a website. Later in the week, she would get together online with her students so they could ask questions and discuss the material.

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s recipients have distinguished themselves through their dedication and boundless energy,” said OCUFA president Sue Wurtele.

Dragana Obradović, an associate professor in U of T’s department of Slavic languages and literatures in the Faculty of Arts & Science, and Micah Stickel, a professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, were also named winners of the OCUFA Teaching Award.