Dr. W. Stephen McNeil, Associate Professor in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science Department of Chemistry, is a recipient of the 2023 West Coast Teaching Excellence Award—UBC Okanagan’s first recognition at these awards. This Award recognizes Dr. McNeil’s longstanding dedication to learner-centred and inclusive teaching practices and his significant impact on the culture of teaching and learning at UBC Okanagan and beyond.
Throughout his celebrated career, Dr. McNeil has played a significant role in shaping and developing the Chemistry curriculum and transforming the learning environment at UBC Okanagan. He led an ambitious reform of the content, delivery, and assessment of UBC Okanagan’s first-year chemistry courses by introducing flipped delivery, guided-inquiry learning, small-group in-class work, collaborative two-stage assessments, and a curriculum framed within societally relevant contexts. He also led the curriculum development process to align UBC Okanagan’s Chemistry curriculum with the UN Sustainable Development goals to demonstrate the relevance and importance of chemistry in society, serving as an exemplar of our campus’ commitment to sustainability and sustainable development in teaching, research and service.
Working closely with Indigenous Elders and community members within the Syilx Okanagan and Secwépemc Nations, Dr. McNeil integrated sophisticated Indigenous knowledges about pit-cooking of balsamroot in the curriculum to teach key chemistry concepts, supporting and advancing UBC’s Indigenous Strategic Plan and our commitments to Truth and Reconciliation.
His passion for teaching reaches far beyond UBC. As a leader in the field of teaching and learning, Dr. McNeil regularly shares his knowledge and insights with the larger teaching community through conference presentations, invited talks, and numerous peer-reviewed publications.
Dr. McNeil has demonstrated continued teaching excellence throughout his career that has been recognized at UBC and nationally. A recipient of UBC Okanagan’s two most distinguished teaching awards—the Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Innovation and the Killam Teaching Prize—he also earned the 2018 Canadian Society for Chemistry Faculty Advisor Award and the Chemical Institute of Canada’s Award for Chemistry Education in 2019.
One student shared “if every instructor approached the classroom with the same energy and commitment as Dr. McNeil, universities would have infinitely better student success with infectious positivity and bright atmospheres.”
“Stephen’s innovative and reflective teaching practices support his students on their learning journeys whether as future chemists and scientific leaders or as scholars in the larger academic community,” says Brad Wuetherick, Associate Provost, Academic Programs, Teaching and Learning. “His work reflects a deep commitment to teaching and learning, inspiring students and colleagues across all disciplines.”
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