Five of Otago's academic staff have won Teaching Excellence awards.
Five of Otago’s academic staff have received Excellence in Teaching awards for being ‘caring, passionate and dedicated teachers’.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Stuart Brock says the awards are held annually to acknowledge the hardworking and highly skilled academic staff at Otago.
“These five winners stood out as being caring, passionate and dedicated teachers,” he says.
“I appreciate everything that they do for our tauira.”
Three out of five of the awards have gone to teachers from the Humanities, one from Commerce and one from Health Sciences.
The winners are:
Associate Professor Melissa McLeod – Kaupapa Māori Teaching Excellence Award (Health Sciences)
Dr Fairleigh Gilmour – Award for Excellence in Teaching (Humanities)
Associate Professor Miranda Johnson – Award for Excellence in Teaching (Humanities)
Dr Tessa Romano – Award for Excellence in Teaching (Humanities)
Dr Murat Üngör – Award for Excellence in Teaching (Business School)
Empowering students – Te Rōpū Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pōmare | Department of Public Health (Wellington), Associate Professor, Melissa McLeod
Associate Professor Melissa McLeod
Melissa enjoys the challenge of teaching, saying “no two classes are ever the same and I find myself needing to constantly adapt to the unique dynamics of each group”.
She appreciates the opportunity to empower students with the knowledge and tools they need to critically engage with health issues, particularly those affecting Māori communities.
“Observing students develop a deeper understanding of the complex connections between racism, health determinants, and health outcomes for Māori populations is incredibly fulfilling.
“Ultimately, the most gratifying aspect for me is seeing students emerge as passionate advocates for Māori health in their future careers.”
Melissa has been in this role at Te Rōpū Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pōmare | Department of Public Health (Wellington) for 14 years.
Enjoying ‘unexpected trajectories’ - Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Gender Studies, Dr Fairleigh Evelyn Gilmour
Senior Lecturer Dr Fairleigh Evelyn Gilmour
Fairleigh says she is excited to receive an Excellence in Teaching award because it draws attention to the work she and her students are doing at the Otago Corrections Facility.
“Incarcerated people in Aotearoa have fewer opportunities for higher education than in comparable countries,” she says.
“I am honoured to be part of the team at Otago, alongside several amazing colleagues, who work with the staff and students at Otago Corrections Facility to expand those opportunities.”
Fairleigh says teaching and learning are intertwined.
“I enjoy sharing my knowledge of the discipline with my students, and I love learning from students.”
Tutorials where conversations take “unexpected trajectories” and she gets to hear new perspectives on key issues in criminology are Fairleigh’s favourite part of teaching.
Fairleigh has held this role in the Sociology, Gender Studies and Criminology Department for eight years.
Aiming for the ‘aha’ moment – History Programme Associate Professor, Miranda Johnson
Associate Professor Miranda Johnson
Miranda strives to create the kind of conditions in her class that will lead to an ‘aha’ moment for her students.
“This is a truly human moment when students grappling with a complex idea or a challenging proposition suddenly light up as they come a new understanding,” she says.
These kind of moments cannot be generated by machine learning.
“It is the result of face-to-face engagement. When it happens, I know that I have helped to yoke my students’ emotional and moral sensibilities to critical thinking on a particular issue.
“It is joyful and makes teaching difficult subjects all the more worthwhile.”
Miranda says she is “thrilled” to have won an Excellence in Teaching award.
“I love teaching but it is also hard work and it’s very nice to be recognised – I’m glad the University offers this opportunity.”
These types of awards are all the more important at the moment as they recognise the human labour staff do for and with each other.
“This is particularly important in contexts of ongoing threats to university funding and the challenges teachers are facing in the era of artificial intelligence.”
Miranda has been Associate Professor within the History Programme at the School of Arts for five years. Prior to that she taught at the University of Sydney and the University of Madison-Wisconsin.
Hopes to honour wonderful tauira - Pūkenga matua ō Te Kāhui Tau | Senior Lecturer of the School of Performing Arts in Western classical vocal performance, Dr Tessa Romano
Senior Lecturer Dr Tessa Romano
Tessa works in a one-to-one setting with tauira from their first years of study through to their third, or sometimes even through their postgraduate study.
“I love witnessing each tauira grow through their time at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, and being able to guide them as well as learn alongside them,” Tessa says.
“It is such an honour to have won this award, and it is great motivation to continue to hone my teaching practice for each new generation that comes through Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka.
“I hope that my performance as a pūkenga matua continues to honour the many wonderful tauira that come through the Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka western classical voice programme as well as the incredible mentors and collaborators from which I have learned so much, especially the many incredible collaborators and mentors, and that it reflects the beautiful, dynamic cultures of the tāngata of Aotearoa.”
Tessa has been a Senior Lecturer with the School of Performing Arts for five years.
Teaching an opportunity to shape the future – Department of Economics Senior Lecturer, Dr Murat Üngör
Senior Lecturer Dr Murat Üngör
Murat says teaching is a “truly remarkable opportunity to shape the future”.
He sees each moment he spends with his students as a chance to inspire and prepare them for an ever-changing world.
“At the heart of my teaching is whakawhanaungatanga, building meaningful relationships and creating a sense of belonging.”
One of his students once described him as a “diligent devotee who has given everything to the betterment of every student”.
“This is who I am,” Murat says.
“That’s why I come to my office all seven days.”
Murat has been providing guidance for his students’ studies, career decisions, scholarships and opportunities abroad.
“They know that I’m here to help them navigate their future with confidence and purpose.”
Murat is proud of his former students who are making an impact across the world.
“Whenever I receive a heartfelt thank-you message, a postcard, or news of their achievements, I feel immense happiness. It is incredibly rewarding to witness their successes, knowing that I have played a small part in their journey.”
Murat says his win belongs to his students.
“This recognition serves as powerful reminder for me to continue dedicating myself wholeheartedly to my students.
“I believe teaching is a lifelong journey, one of continuous learning, reflection, and dedication.”
Murat has been a full-time member of Otago’s academic staff since 2016, and in that time he has taught across three convened courses: ECON302 (International Trade), ECON377 (Mathematical Economics), and INTS503 (The Global Economy).