Shannon Accettone

Teaching Awards:

• Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching (2021)

Shannon Accettone, an Assistant Professor, Teaching Intensive in Chemistry and Forensics, is this year’s recipient of the Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching. Even at this early stage in her career, Professor Accettone has a well-earned reputation for sharing her passion for chemistry with her students. She is a creative, inspiring, and generous teacher. She finds new and varied ways to explain difficult concepts and constantly reworks her courses, with the aim of giving students their best chance to learn challenging material. Professor Accettone has inspired students to expand their horizons and deepen their understanding of their own abilities. Her expectations are high; but she is unwavering in her support for students to meet them. The result, for students, is “a newfound love of chemistry” and an appreciation of “their actual potential as a student.” And from their mistakes or the challenges they face, Professor Accettone helps them “to grow … to become a better student.” Undergraduate and graduate students, along with alumni and staff, celebrate Professor Accettone’s exemplary concern for students’ well-being and her willingness to show her care for her students’ learning, and they highlight that, in addition to all else, she “serves as an inspiration to future female scientists in academia.” Professor Accettone will be honoured at Trent’s Celebration of Excellence for her extraordinary contributions to teaching and learning at Trent.