Lorraine Janzen Kooistra Honoured For Teaching Excellence

Ryerson's Learning and Teaching Office (LTO) held a reception at the Sears Atrium in the George Vari Engineering and Computer Science Building on 14 February to celebrate the prestigious Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) Teaching Award given to English Professor Dr. Lorraine Janzen Kooistra. Dr. Janzen Kooistra was one of six Teaching Award recepients for 2012-2013.

Ryerson University Provost Dr. Mohamed Lachemi, Vice-Provost, Academic Dr. Chris Evans, Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts, Dr. Marsha Moshe (on behalf of Dr. Jean-Paul Boudreau, Dean of Arts), as well as University Director of Zone Learning Dr. Randy Boyagoda (who, as former Chair of the Department of English, was instrumental in the recommendation of Dr. Janzen Kooistra for the OCUFA award) all paid tribute to Lorraine's teaching excellence. LTO Director Dr. Maureen Reed emceed the presentations.

In her speech, Lorraine thanked (and asked to join her on stage) her husband and children, undergraduate and graduate students she had taught, as well as her colleagues in the Library, the Department, the Faculty, the LTO, and the University.

"I am a first generation Canadian and a third generation teacher, and I’m proud and happy to share this OCUFA teaching award with all of you at Ryerson," Lorraine said, adding, "It takes a community to win an OCUFA award."