Recipients of the university’s teaching awards were announced during Mount Saint Vincent University’s Spring Convocation ceremonies on May 15 and 16, 2025. These included the President and Vice-Presidents’ Advanced Career Teaching Award, the Alumni Early Career Teaching Award, and the Alumni Part-Time Faculty Teaching Award. The honorees were Dr. Shane Theunissen from the Department of Child and Youth Study, Dr. Karyn McLellan from the Department of Mathematics & Statistics, and Professor Roy Jamieson from the Department of Communication Studies.
These awards were created to celebrate outstanding teaching across all faculty levels, senior, junior and part-time, and underscore the University’s strong dedication to excellence in teaching and learning.
President and Vice-Presidents’ Advanced Career Teaching Award: Dr. Shane Theunissen, Child and Youth Study
Dr. Shane Theunissen embodies lifelong learning as an active process. He is very committed to co-creating knowledge with his students, as well as with his faculty peers and his frequent collaborators. He is not afraid to take risks, to do things differently, and to learn as he goes. This is evident in the extensive program and curriculum development work that Dr. Theunissen has done for the Department of Child and Youth Study that incorporates experiential learning. Dr. Theunissen designs experiential learning opportunities for his students that align with Participatory Action Research, which involves learning through doing. Sometimes this learning approach creates disequilibrium that Dr. Theunissen embraces and supports his students in navigating. Students reflect on their experiences, respond to challenges, and document and share their observations.
Dr. Theunissen has forged important relationships with Mi’kmaq Elders and communities. He has engaged deeply in community outreach in his partnerships with the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic where he coordinated learning opportunities for Indigenous youth in the Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey schools in grades 7-9 to learn aboard the CSS Acadia, and with Pictou Landing First Nation School, where he engaged in boat building workshops with grades 5-6.
Alumni Early Career Teaching Award: Dr. Karyn McLellan, Mathematics & Statistics
Dr. Karyn McLellan is a committed educator who focuses on building confidence and motivation in students who may experience attitudinal barriers to mathematics education. She acknowledges the complexities of math anxiety and students’ negative feelings about math, while focusing on building up problem solving skills and generating enthusiasm for math in the classroom. She is committed to describing real-world applications for math, as well as engaging in math history and theory, even in first-year classes. Where she can, she brings in challenge problems, puzzles, and interesting concepts beyond the core curriculum to generate excitement about math. Dr. McLellan has been recognized for her scholarship of teaching and learning, including co-organizing an annual Calculus Instruction in Atlantic Canada Conference that brings together high school and university educators. Further, she’s been a yearly invited speaker at the Nova Scotia Mathematics Teacher Association Conference giving workshops on topics such as mathematical games and reflective practices in mathematics. She also participates in community outreach in Math Circles and Science Circles programming which offers free hands-on science exploration opportunities for youth in grades 7-12.
Alumni Part-Time Faculty Teaching Award: Professor Roy Jamieson, Communication Studies
Professor Roy Jamieson is committed to supporting student success in the classroom and in their chosen professions. He designs classes that are creative and experiential, often involving solving complex problems with real-world stakeholders. He designed a capstone strategic planning challenge that is heralded by students and clients alike as a unique opportunity that benefits all parties. He brings a wealth of experience and industry connections to his students from 25 years of communication management experience and 12 years of experience in broadcasting and journalism.
Professor Jamieson is also committed to building exciting curriculum across a variety of delivery modes. He developed two fourth-year offerings for online delivery: Advanced Public Relations Management and Media, Culture & Society. He has also designed communications training for government including with Canada Customs and Canada Revenue Agency. He has been teaching part-time at MSVU since 2010, making this award a particularly special way to acknowledge his fifteen years of dedication to creating engaging and personalized learning experiences for his students.
Congratulations to Dr. Theunissen, Dr.McLellan, and Professor Jamieson!