Trent University History Professor Carolyn Kay has been named among Ontario’s most outstanding university teachers in a province-wide competition adjudicated by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) Awards Committee.

“I'm so thrilled by this news,” said Prof. Kay in response to winning the prestigious award. “For me, a huge part of the satisfaction in being a professor comes from teaching students at Trent. There are so many great students here who are passionate about their studies and who bring their hearts and their minds into learning.”

Prof. Kay, whose colleagues and students praise her as an “innovative,” “energetic,” “articulate, insightful and an original thinker,” will receive the 2007 OCUFA teaching award at a June 6, 2008 ceremony in Toronto.

“On behalf of the entire Trent community and particularly our students, I congratulate Professor Kay on this great teaching honour,” said Dr. Christine McKinnon, dean of arts and science at Trent University. “Here at Trent we have a strong reputation for excellence in teaching and this most recent award recognizes the commitment of Professor Kay, and all of our professors, to providing our students with the best learning experiences.”

In their nomination letters, Prof. Kay’s students raved about her selection of reading material, the opportunities she provides to hear the views of their peers, and the passion, intelligence, and engagement she demonstrates in the classroom.

“The OCUFA Awards Committee noted Dr. Kay’s ability to bring out the best in her students, nurturing their sense of confidence in academic pursuits and encouraging and inspiring her colleagues through mentoring, rigorous course and curriculum development,” said OCUFA President Brian E. Brown.

Prof. Kay is among six Ontario professors to receive a 2007 OCUFA teaching award. OCUFA has been celebrating outstanding achievement in teaching and academic librarianship at Ontario universities since 1973. The awards committee selects up to six teaching award recipients and one academic librarianship award recipient each year.

“I am so honoured to receive this award and I am very grateful to the students and faculty who wrote letters of support on my behalf, and to Angie Best at the Instructional Development Centre and Professor Sue Wurtele who were instrumental in nominating me,” Prof. Kay said. “Trent has a lot of truly superb researchers and teachers -- some of the new faculty, for example, are just amazing! So this award is also a tribute to the excellence supported and encouraged at Trent University.”