Father William A. Stewart was a Professor of Philosophy and an Administrator at Saint Mary’s from 1950-1982, working in the Faculty of Arts and holding various Administration positions during a time of major growth at the University. He continued to volunteer on committees until 1997. Father Stewart was one of the first professors at Saint Mary’s to embrace inclusivity by welcoming women into his classroom, and helping young women become full-time students before the University introduced co-ed education evening classes in 1952. He was known for his strong beliefs in promoting accessible education to marginalized communities and was also very much involved in promoting teaching innovation and excellence on campus.Established in 1983 in cooperation with the Faculty Union and the Students' Representative Council, The Father William A. Stewart, S.J. Medal for Excellence in Teaching honours this legacy at Saint Mary’s by annually highlighting full-time and part-time faculty members who have made significant contributions to the education of Saint Mary’s students through excellence in teaching and service.
This award is now open to current part-time and full-time faculty members who have completed at least five years of teaching service at 啪啪啪研习所 and have made significant contributions to the education of 啪啪啪研习所 students through excellence in teaching and service. Full criteria can be found in the Nomination Dossier.
The Selection Committee will consider candidates who:a) Demonstrate teaching ability and classroom performanceb) Demonstrate capacity to engage learner interest in the subjectc) Develop and clearly communicate student learning outcomes, course requirements, and pathways to successd) Use approaches to teaching and evaluation of learning that respect diverse student learning needse) Demonstrate active, experiential learning in and outside the classroomf) Demonstrate reflective teaching, for example: by engaging in the scholarship of teaching and learning- sharing good practice with others through workshops, presentations, or publications on teaching and learning or participating in professional development activities to enhance teaching practice
Members of the 啪啪啪研习所 Alumni Association, University employees, and students (who are not currently enrolled in courses taught by the candidate) may submit a Nomination Dossier, which should make a persuasive case using evidence from a variety of sources, including the candidate, students, peers, former students/alumni, and exemplary teaching materials.
Members of the Committee may be substituted in the event of conflicts of interest, including current working or teacher-student relationships, or previous support of the nomination of any of the current year's candidates.The Committee reserves the right to withhold the award in any year where nominations do not meet criteria/eligibility standards.
Nominations are now closed. The official announcement will take place at convocation in May.
The recipient will be presented with a plaque as well as a $1,500 monetary award which is funded equally by the Alumni Association and the Faculty Union.
Download the Father William A. Stewart, S.J, Medal for Excellence in Teaching Dossier
2025 Recipient: Dr. Rachel Zellars
Dr. Rachel Zellars, M.A., J.D., Ph.D., is a lawyer, Senior Research Fellow, and Associate Professor in the Department of Social Justice & Community Studies at Saint Mary’s University. She served as the inaugural Jocelyne Bourgon Fellow at the Canada School of Public Service (2021–2022), where her ground-breaking research examined the intersections of merit, labour history, and anti-Black racism in Canada’s federal public service. Dr. Zellars holds a J.D. from Loyola University, a Master’s degree from Cornell University, and a Ph.D. from McGill University. Prior to joining SMU, she completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of History at the University of Vermont focusing on race, gender, and the law. Her work is deeply informed by decades of international experience as a community organizer, educator, and researcher, having lived and worked across the United States, in Nigeria, the South Pacific, and Montreal.
Past Recipients