Recipients recognized for excellence in classroom instruction, innovative teaching methods and distinction in research
Six U of T Engineering faculty and teaching assistants have been recognized for their leadership and innovation in teaching and research. The recipients of the faculty’s four teaching awards, plus the McCharles Prize for Early Career Research Distinction, were recognized at the April 14 meeting of Faculty Council.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with such talented and inspiring educators and scholars,” says U of T Engineering Dean Christopher Yip.
“Congratulations to the awardees, and thanks to all our faculty members for their outstanding contributions to our teaching and research missions.”
Evan Bentz (CivMin)
Sustained Excellence in Teaching Award
Recognizing a faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in teaching over the course of at least 15 years.
Since joining CivMin in 2000, Professor Evan Bentz has taught a wide array of courses, including core courses and technical electives as well as the flagship CAMP course, CME358-Civil And Mineral Practicals. Bentz taught CAMP from 2000 to 2024 and was deeply involved in developing the content and style of teaching for this unique off-campus field lab course.
Bentz’s contributions to the faculty go well beyond classroom teaching. He served as associate chair, undergraduate for CivMin and played a crucial role in CivMin’s CEAB accreditation in 2018.
He was also instrumental in the 2018 CivMin self-study and the development of the resulting strategic plan. He chaired the faculty’s Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, leading it through the pandemic, and has served as vice-dean, undergraduate since 2024.
Bentz has also contributed to education beyond U of T through his development of the Response computer program, which has been used in courses at universities worldwide and downloaded by 110,000 engineers and researchers in 157 countries. Bentz garnered the faculty’s Early Career Teaching Award in 2005 and the Faculty Teaching Award in 2013. He has received the CivMin Chair’s Bronze Award for Excellence in Teaching as well as an EngSci Teaching Award, and won CivMin’s Professor of the Year Award twice.
By Carolyn Farrell
Read the full story, with all the winners, as originally published by Engineering News