Vancouver, Canada—May 31, 2011—Applied Science educators Yusuf Altintas, Greg Johnson and Ronald Kellett each received UBC Killam Teaching Prizes during the May 2011 convocation ceremonies at the Chan Centre for Performing Arts.

During the presentations the following award citations were read, detailing the winners’ unique contributions to teaching at UBC:

Mechanical Engineering Professor Yusuf Altintas: His students describe him as “a passionate, enthusiastic and devoted teacher. With equal parts real-life examples, well-designed labs and an infectious desire to pass on a joy of discovery to his students, he makes the most theoretical engineering subjects come to life. Professor Yusuf Altintas has made a life-long impact on a generation of students, many of whom have wound up in jobs all over the world—and yet still keep in touch with their favorite teacher.”

Civil Engineering and Architecture Instructor Greg Johnson: In the words of his students and colleagues, Greg Johnson is “an outstanding teacher who brings an enormous amount of professional experience to the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture and the Department of Civil Engineering. He has a remarkable ability to present complex ideas and information in a direct and compelling manner. From sophisticated visual presentations in the classroom to construction site field trips, Greg has a way of sharing unique perspectives on his craft that bring the lecture material to life for students in engineering and architecture alike. His commitment and enthusiasm to teaching at the graduate and undergraduate level receive unrivalled praise among students. His dedication to teaching and his clear and engaging presentation style make him a rare gem of a teacher.”

Landscape Architecture Professor Ron Kellett: In the words of his students and colleagues, Professor Ronald Kellett is “a dedicated teacher, a valued mentor, an intellectual role model and a respected colleague. He is an incredibly positive person, teaches students to work from a place of excitement, and drives them to learn more. He seems to find the best in his students and manages, in the process, to enlarge their understanding of what disciplined hard work and a restless sense of curiosity tempered by scholarly reflection are all about. His passion for his subject is not only encouraging to the fields of architecture, landscape architecture and planning, but addictive to students lucky enough to work with him.  Always approachable, he excels in enabling students to reach their full potential.”

The highest teaching distinction at UBC, the UBC Killam Teaching Prizes are awarded annually from the Killam Endowment Fund to faculty nominated by students, colleagues, and alumni in recognition of excellence in teaching.

For more information about the award, visit: www.vpacademic.ubc.ca/awards/killam.

Contact

Sherry Green
Manager, Web Communications, Faculty Recognition & Accreditation
Office of the Dean
UBC Faculty of Applied Science
Tel: 604-822-9091