Published by Communications and Public Affairs (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338
News Release
September 18, 2003
Chemical engineer is 2003 Distinguished Visiting Teaching Professor
The 2003 Distinguished Visiting Teaching Professor at the University of Guelph will deliver a public lecture Sept. 22 at 4:30 p.m. in Room 103 of Rozanski Hall. Don Woods, a chemical engineering professor at McMaster University, will present "The Double Cohort as a Facilitator of Change: Hidden Opportunities for Students and Faculty."
Woods will visit campus Sept. 22 to 24, meeting with faculty, program committees, and undergraduate and graduate students to give talks on subjects ranging from "Small Group Teaching Strategies in First-Year Seminar Courses" to "Improving Skills and Confidence With Problem Solving."
An expert in problem-based learning and process design, Woods has won numerous awards for his teaching and leadership, including a 3M Fellowship, the Lifetime Achievement Award from Chemical Engineering Education and the President's Award for Educational Leadership. He has given more than 300 workshops on effective teaching and process skill development in Australia, Canada, China, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, the United States and Venezuela.
"Given Don's wealth of knowledge about teaching and learning, he is an excellent choice for the 2003 Distinguished Visiting Teaching Professor," said Jill McCutcheon, associate vice-president (academic). "Our faculty and students will certainly benefit from the expertise, passion and dedication he brings to teaching."
Woods received his B.Sc. from Queen's University, earned his MS and PhD from the University of Wisconsin and worked for a wide variety of industries before joining McMaster in 1964. He is one of 20 chemical engineers to receive the Century of Achievement Award from the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering. As a researcher, he focused on process design, cost estimation and surface phenomena, but most of his time has been devoted to improving student learning, developing their skills in problem solving and fostering lifetime learning.
The Distinguished Visiting Teaching Professor program was created in 2002 to recognize and highlight the theory, practice and scholarship of teaching by bringing a notable and respected teacher to campus each year to spend several days interacting with faculty, students and staff. Developed to complement the teaching excellence of U of G's 3M Fellows, the program is intended to focus especially on the scholarship of teaching.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt (519) 824-4120, Ext. 53338, or Rachelle Cooper, (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982.
