Congratulating PhD candidate Chris Martin

Congratulations to UWaterloo English PhD candidate Chris Martin, one of two recipients of the Warren Ober Award for Outstanding Teaching by Graduate Students! The annual award is granted to graduate students who have made significant contributions to teaching within the Faculty of Arts. As the Award page states:

Chris is a doctoral candidate in the Department of English Language and Literature. His research examines the formation of ideological communities on YouTube, focusing on the interactions between content creators’ rhetorical techniques and the platform’s recommendation systems.

“Chris has an extremely sincere and passionate style before students that transforms the tone and energy of the class,” says Dr. George Lamont, who nominated Chris for the award and observed Chris in his roles as a teaching and graduate assistant. “His excitement about the potential for the study of rhetoric to inform our observations about culture and history was infectious.” Students would often wait after classes to consult with Chris about their research, and many expressed an interest in studying rhetoric because of his inspiring pedagogy.

In the past year, Chris has taught Intro to Academic Writing and Science Communication, using his background in rhetoric to create compelling courses where students from across disciplines could apply their knowledge to complex political, economic and technical issues. He embraced the challenge of teaching courses that are a degree requirement for many, incorporating extensive, discipline-specific materials and receiving high praise in his student evaluations. Chris stands out as an instructor for his passion, enthusiasm and dedication to his craft

Feb 15th Showcase: Engineering Communication

UWaterloo English’s Dr. Heather Love and Dr. Megan Selinger are delighted to invite you to attend a showcase of first-year Engineering Communication student work this Thursday, February 15^th from 12:45 – 2:00pm in EV3 2402! 

Inspired by Kate Crawford and Vladen Joler’s “Anatomy of an AI System” project, their Management Sciences Engineering classes have spent the past several weeks working in groups to research, design, and create “Technology Maps.” These exploded diagrams illustrate how everyday technological devices and platforms (Apple Watches, GoogleNest security cameras, Instagram, TikTok, and more) are part of complex socio-technical networks with significant ethical issues and environmental impacts.

The showcase will operate similarly to a poster session, so you are welcome to stop by for a few minutes or stay for the full session. You’ll be able to check out the posters and chat with the students who created with them. They are looking forward to sharing the stories they are telling (and arguments they are making) about these technologies; you can also ask them about how they have incorporated visual rhetoric and document design into their work. 

There will be some impressive work on display. If you happen to be on campus on Thursday afternoon with some time to spare, we’d love to see you!

Please feel free to forward this invitation to others whom you think might be interested in attending.

An English Course in Manga

Welcome to one of UWaterloo English’s latest course offerings: English 262: Manga. By studying manga texts such as Dororo, Akira, and Deathnote, students in this course will be encouraged to think critically about visual narrative, cultural values in a global marketplace, and literature as a concept. Dr. Andrew Deman will be the instructor.

Congratulations to Dr. George Lamont

Congratulations to UWaterloo English’s Dr. George Lamont, who has been selected as one of the recipients of the Faculty of Engineering’s 2022-2023 Sandford Fleming Foundation (SFF) Teaching Excellence Award. In 2022 Dr. Lamont was appointed a Faculty of Arts Teaching Fellow, with the faculty noting: “Lamont is highly regarded for his teaching and holds numerous awards including the 2020 Arts Award for Excellence in Teaching.”

Teaching award for Dr. Carter Neal

Congratulations to UWaterloo English’s Dr. Carter Neal, who is the recipient of an Arts Award for Excellence in Teaching. The committee writes that his “teaching demonstrates a strong commitment to experiential learning and concrete learning experiences that centre ethical concerns while developing communication and writing skills. He creates fictional co-op employers and tasks students with learning the communication skills and practices that the employer requires. For three years, his students have worked for “AccessTech,” a start-up developing digital technologies to address disabilities and impairments. In addition to his creative work in the classroom, Dr. Neal demonstrates a deep commitment to rethinking pedagogical practice and curricula from an antiracist lens.”

Another award for PhD Candidate Maša Torbica

Congratulations to UWaterloo English PhD candidate Maša Torbica, winner of an Arts Award for Excellence in Teaching. This isn’t the first teaching award she’s won. Others include: the Amit and Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student (2020), an Independent​ Graduate Instructor Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Department of English Language and Literature (2022), and a nomination for the Teaching Assistant Award for Excellence in Teaching at the start of her PhD.

The committee writes: “Maša exemplifies the best qualities of teaching in Arts… Her transdisciplinary pedagogy, commitment to authentic learning, exceptional mentoring abilities, inclusive classroom practices, and supportive administration of peer tutors, have made her a strong contributor to teaching in Arts and across the University in her many roles within the Writing and Communication Centre and the Department of English … Her teaching strengths lie in her respect for, and confidence in, students’ abilities; her thorough preparation and deep intellectual grasp of her material; and her skills in presenting that depth of knowledge in ways that draw from students their best work.”

Wicked Problem of Climate Change,

As Waterloo News writes, ” A new pilot course on climate change is bringing together unique perspectives from across Waterloo’s faculties and inviting senior undergraduate students to register. The course, called The Wicked Problem of Climate Change, is being taught by six PhD students, one from each of the University’s six faculties, to understand the multifaceted issues that make up the climate emergency.” English is represented by PhD candidate Jerika Sanderson, She is also the recipient of a Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship (2021-2024), to fund her doctoral research on representations of biotechnology and biomedicine in 21^st-century science fiction and science journalism. According to Jerika,“Our goal through this interdisciplinary course is to give students opportunities for conversations and collaborations across disciplines so that they will gain insight from new perspectives.” For more, see the original article.

Congratulations Dr. George Lamont

The Faculty of Arts is pleased to share that we have a new Teaching Fellow, Dr. George Lamont of the Department of English Language and Literature. Lamont is highly regarded for his teaching and holds numerous awards including the 2020 Arts Award for Excellence in Teaching. He joins the other five faculty Teaching Fellows who support excellent teaching within their faculties and also collaborate on a  number of impactful university-wide projects.

“I am excited to take on the role of Faculty of Arts Teaching Fellow in 2022, and I welcome anyone to contact me about teaching,” says Lamont. “The diversity of our disciplines in Arts presents valuable opportunities for us to learn from each other’s practices and share them with other disciplines. Everyone is busy, so we need practical means to invest in teaching that fit with our competing responsibilities.”

For more, read the original article.

Diploma in Creative Writing

Do you know UWaterloo English offers a Diploma in Creative Writing, open to students across all disciplines at UWaterloo? Any students registered in degree programs or any non- or post-degree academic plan at the University of Waterloo may pursue the Diploma in Creative Writing.

The Diploma in Creative Writing requires successful completion of a minimum of two academic course units (four courses) with a minimum cumulative diploma average of 70%, including: ENGL 210C, ENGL 335 two of ENGL 332, ENGL 336, THPERF 366

English faculty boast a variety of creative writing credentials and specializations: Dr. Andrea Jonahs holds a MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing from the University of Iowa, while Dr. Jay Dolmage has a Masters in Creative Writing from the University of Windsor. Lecturer Carrie Snyder was named a finalist for the Governor General’s Award for her short story collection; her first novel, Girl Runner, was shortlisted for the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize. Lecturer Claire Tacon has published poetry as well as the delightfully named novel, In Search of the Perfect Singing Flamingo. Dr. Sarah Tolmie moves between novels of speculative fiction and volumes of poetry, with her poetry collection The Art of Dying shortlisted for Canada’s most prestigious poetry award, The Griffin Poetry Prize. Dr. Lamees Al Ethari has published poetry, as well as her 2019 memoir, Waiting for the Rain. In addition to poetry, Dr. Jennifer Harris writes lyrical picture books for children, both fiction and nonfiction.

The Awards Must Go On

UWaterloo English may not have had an in-person awards ceremony this year, but the show did indeed go…online. Once again our students made it difficult for the judges, submitting excellent work for consideration. Congratulations to all of our winners, and thanks to all of our participants and organizers (Dr. Andrea Jonahs and Dr. Megan Selinger who hosted, alongside the reliably wonderful English admin staff, Margaret Ulbrick, Jenny Conroy, and Debbie Nahlik)

UNDERGRADUATE               

Andrew James Dugan Prize in Literature Award: Rachel Zehr

Andrew James Dugan Prize in Rhetoric and Professional Writing Award: Philip Hohol

Co-op Work Report Award: Wajiha Parvez

Diaspora and Transnational Studies Prize: Jane Lu

Diaspora and Transnational Studies Prize: Nicola Tidbury

Donald R and Mary E Snider Literary Award: Raha Nyakio Mahmoudi

Donald R and Mary E Snider Literary Award: Evangelos Tzoganakis

English Society Creative Writing Award for Poetry: Maya Victoria Venters

English Society Creative Writing Award for Poetry: Chrislyn Jo Fernandes

English Society Creative Writing Award for Prose: Julianna Suderman

Janice Del Matto Memorial Award in Creative Writing: Selina Barker

Masternak Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship in English: Jared Cubilla

Masternak Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship in English: Anna-Maria Brokalakis

The Albert Shaw Poetry Prize: Maya Victoria Venters

The Award in American Literature and Culture: Katrina Steckle

The Canadian Literature Prize: Emilie Stanley

The Hibbard Prize for Shakespeare Studies: Philip Hohol

The Rhetoric and Digital Design Award: Caleb Draper

The Rhetoric and Digital Design Award: Christina Piruchta

 The Rhetoric and Professional Writing Award: Nicole Bourque

The Rhetoric and Professional Writing Award: Anna-Maria Brokalakis

Walter R. Martin English 251 Award: Kashfia Mahmood

GRADUATE    

Beltz Essay Prize (Master of Arts): Hannah Gardiner

Beltz Essay Prize (PhD): Shannon Lodoen

Beltz Essay Prize (PhD): Maab Alkurdi

David Nimmo English Graduate Scholarship: Jenn Rickert

Graduate Co-op Work Report Award: Neha Ravella

Graduate Creative Writing Award Prose/Poetry: Manahil Bandukwala

Graduate Professional Communication Award: Marion Gruner

Independent Graduate Instructor Award for Excellence in Teaching: Monique Kampherm

Jack Gray Graduate Fellowship Award: Dakota Pinheiro

Lea Vogel-Nimmo English Graduate Professionalization Award: Monique Kampherm

Lea Vogel-Nimmo English Graduate Professionalization Award: Jonathan Baltrusaitis

Masternak Foundation Graduate Scholarship in English: Christin Taylor

Rhetoric Essay Prize (Master of Arts): Christopher Rogers

Rhetoric Essay Prize (Master of Arts): Joseph Stapleton

Rhetoric Essay Prize (PhD): Jerika Sanderson

Rhetoric Essay Prize (PhD): Sabrina Alicia Sgandurra

TA Award for Excellence in Teaching: Toben Racicot

W.K. Thomas Award: Lillian Black

W.K. Thomas Award: Hannah Watts