UWindsor nursing professor Judy Bornais says being named one of Ontario’s most outstanding university teachers by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) is “a huge honour,” but what really moved her were the kind remarks by students and colleagues.

“In the nomination package are a number of letters of support,” she says. “To me, that was one of the highlights—reading what students and colleagues think of your work.”

Prof. Bornais, the faculty’s experiential learning specialist, will receive an OCUFA Teaching Award at an October 27 ceremony in Toronto.

OCUFA president Constance Adamson said one of the most striking things in the nomination materials is how often the word ‘love’ is used in comments from Bornais’ students.

“It is clear how strongly she connects with her students, and the awards committee was impressed with Prof. Bornais’ genuine love of teaching,” Adamson said. “Nursing is about compassion, and she lives this value in her classroom. This is the kind of passion we want to see in our teachers.”

Bornais says that connecting with students is key in her approach to teaching.

“I think it is really important that as professors, we show our students we care about them and care about their success,” she says.

This year’s other recipients of the award are: chemistry lecturer Andrew P. Dicks of the University of Toronto, psychology professor Steve Joordens of the University of Toronto Scarborough, and chemistry professor Stephen MacNeil and psychology professor Eileen Wood of Wilfrid Laurier University.

OCUFA represents 17,000 faculty and academic librarians in 27 faculty associations across Ontario.