Durham College proudly announced recently that Virginia Harwood, a professor with the School of Justice & Emergency Services, has been awarded the College Sector Educator Award by the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE). She is being recognized for her efforts to promote and support the development of her peers with regard to teaching excellence. This includes helping to support and ensure the success of her fellow professors and students and the teaching and learning leadership she provides both in and outside of Durham College.

“On behalf of faculty, staff and students at Durham College, I extend my warmest congratulations to Virginia on this wonderful achievement,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “This national award is reflective of her strong commitment to seeking innovative ways to inspire excellence in her peers including innovative mentoring and coaching techniques and her desire to promote new curriculum delivery and teaching methods among her colleagues in order to ensure students have the best post-secondary experience possible during their time on campus.”

In addition to her role as a professor, Harwood, a 1987 alumna of the college’s Legal Administration/Law Clerk program, also developed the college’s Mediation – Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) one-year graduate certificate program in 2010, which she continues to teach in and co-ordinate. Designed for individuals with existing educational or industry experience, the program includes a hybrid delivery model that enables students to participate in online chats and assignments and use digital technologies to interact with guest speakers.

“I am truly honoured to have been nominated and selected as a recipient for the College Sector Educator Award,” said Harwood. “I am extremely proud to represent Durham College.”

Harwood joined the college in 2002 after spending 17 years working as a law clerk for a major Toronto law firm and as a sole practitioner working in civil litigation; family law; estates; legal research; and real estate. An avid lifelong learner, she is a member of the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario; holds a qualified mediator designation from the ADR Institutes of Canada and Ontario; is an affiliate member of the Ontario Bar Association – ADR section; and is a volunteer member of the Board of Directors of the Durham Community Legal Clinic.

In addition to receiving the College Sector Educator Award, she was recognized with Durham College’s Vice-President, Academic Faculty Award for Academic Excellence in August 2011 and in 2012 was nominated for an Association of Canadian Community Colleges Teaching Excellence Award.  

Harwood holds an advanced diploma in Legal Administration/Law Clerk; a certificate in Adult Education; a Bachelor of Education in Adult Education; a certificate and advanced certificate in ADR; and is a part-time student in the Master of Education program at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. In addition, she volunteers on several committees; mentors new faculty; is co-facilitator of the Teaching in Community program; and established the college’s Campus Conflict Resolution Services.

Nominations for the STLHE College Sector Educator Award were received from educators across Canada.

Nominees asked to provide evidence of their own teaching excellence and participation in activities that support the teaching excellence of peers including student, peer and supervisor feedback; leading workshops; presenting at conferences; mentoring others; participating on academic committees; being active in academic associations; researching

and publishing related to teaching; and leading projects and program teams. Harwood will receive her award at the 2013 STLHE Conference in Cape Breton in June.

A national association of academics interested in the improvement of teaching and learning in higher education, STLHE’s membership is comprised of faculty as well as teaching and learning resource professionals from post-secondary education institutions.