Congratulations to Professor Rachel La Touche who recently received an Arts and Science (A&S) Teaching Award. The prize honours "faculty members who are effective teachers and demonstrate an exceptional commitment to student learning, pedagogical engagement and teaching innovation." Professor La Touche received the award for her commitment to bettering access and inclusivity in education overall.
Professor La Touche is an Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, in Sociology on the St. George Campus. Her research focuses on inequality, mental health, and teaching in higher education.
We have posted an excerpt of the article announcing Professor La Touche's award below. The full story is available on the A&S News website here.
Four A&S faculty celebrated for their excellence in teaching
June 19, 2020
By A&S News
The University of Toronto recognized four Arts & Science faculty members today — Jill Carter, Rachel La Touche, Suzanne Wood and Kerry Taylor — with honours that celebrate their excellence in teaching.
Carter, La Touche and Wood are all recipients of the Early Career Teaching Award, which recognizes faculty members who are effective teachers and demonstrate an exceptional commitment to student learning, pedagogical engagement and teaching innovation.
Taylor was awarded a University of Toronto Teaching Fellowship, which allows members in the teaching stream to engage in a pedagogical project of direct benefit to students in a defined area of institutional priority. The fellowships provide the opportunity to undertake a two-year teaching and learning project, working closely with the Office of the Vice-Provost, Innovations in Undergraduate Education and the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation (CTSI).
...Rachel La Touche’s research examines inequality, mental health, decolonization and teaching pedagogy in higher education.
“When I tackle classroom challenges as research questions, it requires me to consider a broad spectrum of factors in student learning — such as family life, employment and learning challenges,” says La Touche, who is committed to improving access, inclusion and the overall learning environment in her classes.
In addition to her research, La Touche supervises and mentors undergraduate and graduate students and collaborates with partner institutions — and publishes — on teaching and learning pedagogy. She also volunteers as a tutor for a non-profit afterschool program.
“Receiving this award makes me hungry for the next challenge,” says La Touche. “I plan to turn my attention to developing teaching resources, assessment tools, and innovative and accessible course design for the unique needs of students and faculty in today’s higher ed.”
As for her fellow educators, La Touche encourages them to take risks in their teaching practices...