Colleen Hood’s students have noticed her efforts in and beyond the classroom, so much so that it inspired them to nominate her for a provincial recognition.

As a result, the Brock Professor of Recreation and Leisure was recently awarded an Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) Teaching Award of Excellence.

Every year OUSA, a provincial advocacy group that represents more than 150,000 post-secondary students, asks each of its member schools to nominate a professor who has had an impact on the academic careers of students. The Teaching Award of Excellence nominations opened in February and 80 nominations were submitted by Brock students.

The Brock University Students’ Union brought forth Hood’s name for the honour based on a nomination letter by a student that described how she “not only goes above and beyond for her students, but she genuinely cares.”

The nomination also goes on to praise Hood as a “positive and inspiring role model.”

Hood was presented with the OUSA award at the Partners in Higher Education (PiHED) dinner on April 6 in Toronto.

“I was extremely surprised to find out about this award and I am absolutely thrilled about receiving it,” Hood says. “I have loved teaching and the interactions with all levels of students for more than 30 years and this is a wonderful culmination of a career-long commitment to inspiring students.”

In addition to her strength in teaching, Hood has also been recognized for her research efforts in the past year, receiving the 2022 Leisure Scholar Award for the Canadian Association for Leisure Studies for her research on recreation therapy.

“BUSU would like to congratulate Dr. Hood on an amazing, impactful career,” said Andrea Lepage, Vice-President, University Affairs. “Your commitment to your students and ability to inspire and engage with them has not gone unnoticed. This award is a testament to your hard work, dedication and passion for teaching. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.”