Recipients of the university’s teaching awards were announced during Mount Saint Vincent University’s (MSVU) Spring Convocation ceremonies on May 14 and 15, 2026. 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. Juliette Valcke from the Department of Modern Languages, Dr. Andrea Fraser from the Faculty of Education, and Dr. Carolyn Birnie-Porter from the Department of Psychology.
These awards were created to celebrate the outstanding teaching accomplishments of faculty members, librarians and laboratory instructors, and to underscore the University’s strong dedication to excellence in teaching and learning.
President and Vice-Presidents’ Advanced Career Teaching Award: Dr. Juliette Valcke, Modern Languages
Dr. Juliette Valcke is a passionate and skilled teacher who values opportunities for practice, feedback, and learning by doing. Her enthusiasm for French language, literature, and culture is contagious. Dr. Valcke is known for creating a welcoming and fun classroom environment, making even the quietest of students feel eager to engage in discussions. Her students describe a feeling of community and family within her classroom. Her commitment to students’ education is informed by experiential learning, creating opportunities for students to immerse themselves in French language and culture. She organized French-Canadian potlucks and out-of-province field trips to see plays related to course materials, as just two examples. She always makes time for students and never hesitates to accommodate their needs.
Dr. Valcke is also a valued curriculum designer who excels in developing new, relevant course materials and promoting student-centred educational practices. Among many things, she set up a new online version of the French Placement Test to help students enrol in the right classes, helped revise an open educational resource and textbook for students, and designed online courses that can be taught in multiple formats including engaging videos and interactive activities which serve as a model of quality work.
Alumni Early Career Teaching Award: Dr. Andrea Fraser, Education
Dr. Andrea Fraser is an intentional, evidence-based, and reflective educator who exemplifies excellence in teaching, innovation, and student-centred practice. Her literacy education courses are comprehensive, research-informed, thoughtfully structured, and aligned with current grade primary to 12 classroom realities. She creates a collaborative and inclusive learning environment that fosters close, supportive communities of students. She actively seeks feedback and adjusts her courses in real time to meet the diverse needs of learners.
Dr. Fraser treats literacy instruction as a professional responsibility and a matter of educational justice, shaping a generation of teachers who share those views. Students leave her courses feeling empowered and confident, knowing her door remains open beyond graduation.
Dr. Fraser is also a leader in curriculum development at MSVU, helping establish the Science of Reading offering in the Literacy Education graduate program, positioning the University as a national leader in evidence-based literacy preparation.
Alumni Part-Time Faculty Teaching Award: Dr. Carolyn Birnie-Porter, Psychology
Dr. Carolyn Birnie-Porter is an innovative, supportive, and engaging educator who has taught a wide range of psychology courses across multiple delivery modes, showcasing her teaching skill and breadth of knowledge. She designs coursework that helps students see the real-world relevance of theories and concepts, incorporating media analyses and podcast reflections to keep learning current. Her activity-based, collaborative classes encourage critical thinking and sharing of personal experiences, creating a strong sense of community in the classroom.
Dr. Birnie-Porter promotes learner agency and supports the diverse needs of learners, offering multiple ways for students to demonstrate their learning and build confidence. She also cares deeply about her students’ well-being, checking in during major world events and staying after class for those who need or want to talk. She takes time to learn every student’s preferred name and pronouns, ensuring each feels seen and valued.
Congratulations to Dr. Valcke, Dr. Fraser, and Dr. Birnie-Porter!