Lesley McCannell felt like no matter what role she took on in her career, she was teaching. Even as a management consultant, she was teaching others.
In fact, she was so curious about teaching that when she decided to move to B.C. from Manitoba 17 years ago, she called the Dean in the School of Business at Kwantlen Polytechnic University to see if she could get a job teaching.
“It paid off. I love working at KPU and I love teaching. I think it’s an honour to have that opportunity,” says McCannell, a business instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
To recognize her remarkable contribution to teaching at KPU, McCannell will receive the Distinguished Teaching Award at Spring Convocation. And she will also be receiving the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs Teaching Excellence Award later in June.
McCannell was nominated by fellow instructors for the Distinguished Teaching Award, including business instructor David Harvey.
“She’s the person who inspires greatness in her students. She lends them confidence and shows them how to be the best they can be,” says Harvey. “She does what is necessary to help her students be their absolute best.”
Harvey adds that years ago, McCannell inspired the department to start using electronic portfolios. More recently, she created a group to explore how the School of Business can accommodate intercultural and international differences with international and domestic students.
“Lesley is a champion for international student education and for creating an inclusive and positive learning experience for all students no matter their background,” says Stephanie Howes, dean in the School of Business at KPU.
“She is a respected educational leader in the School of Business. She has elevated the School and KPU, both provincially and nationally, as a post-secondary destination for international students to receive socially just quality education in culturally diverse classrooms.”
McCannell says she was surprised by the nomination and award and even a little embarrassed because she feels KPU is full of distinguished instructors.
“I am surrounded by faculty that are equally as committed and interested in their students and adjusting what they do in their classrooms."
Story by Sucheta Singh