Congratulations to the 2024 Teaching Award of Excellence Winner, Thomas Sasso!

Lang introduced its teaching awards back in 2018 to honor the exceptional contributions of our instructors. These awards were created to recognize their strong commitment to student learning and support. Over the years, these awards have grown to become a meaningful symbol of excellence in teaching at Lang, celebrating both innovative pedagogical approaches and the personal investment our instructors make towards their students’ success.

This year, Lang received an impressive number of high-quality applications, demonstrating the extraordinary effort our instructors invest in their courses and their dedication to fostering both academic success and student well-being. Each submission reflected a deep passion for teaching, as well as creative ways to engage and inspire students in the classroom and beyond. Through these awards, Lang continues to champion a culture of educational excellence, encouraging faculty members to explore new approaches that enhance the student experience.

It is with great pleasure that we announce the 2024 Teaching Award of Excellence recipient. This year’s recipient of the MacPherson Teaching Award of Excellence is:

• Thomas Sasso (they/he), Department of Management

Professor Sasso has taught several important courses here at Lang, with an emphasis on human resources and a specific focus on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. These include Foundations of Leadership, Advanced Topics in Management: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Practice; Labour Relations; Developing Management and Leadership Competencies; Individuals and Groups in Organizations. He has graciously guest lectured in MGMT*3030, Leadership and Communication course for the past 5 years. He is an expert in teaching Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) principles, engaging students in thought-provoking dialogues that challenge their perspectives and deepen their understanding. Sasso excels in creating safer and inclusive environments where students feel empowered to voice their opinions and experiences. Through innovative teaching methods and empathetic guidance, he inspires students to become passionate advocates for EDI principles, fostering a culture of respect, awareness, and positive change both within and beyond the classroom. One of his students had this to say in their supporting letter:

“The EDI pitch competition, led by Thomas Sasso was an excellent opportunity for students like me to identify EDI issues in sports and then combat the identified issue with a tangible solution. The competition was filled with lots of learning and development, and I can’t thank my professors enough for affording me with this opportunity. It is actionable events and opportunities like this that ultimately contribute to the positive and inclusive culture that we have here at Guelph.”

Congratulations to Thomas and thank you for your efforts in providing outstanding learning experiences for students!