Laurier professor Richelle Monaghan receives prestigious 3M National Teaching Fellowship

May 6, 2024
For Immediate Release

WATERLOO — Richelle Monaghan (BA ’99), professor in Wilfrid Laurier University’s Departments of Health Studies and Biology and vice dean of the Faculty of Science, has been named a 2024 3M National Teaching Fellow. Widely regarded as Canada’s highest teaching honour, the award recognizes educational leadership and excellence in teaching at the university and college level.

“Dr. Monaghan is incredibly deserving of this prestigious honour,” said Deborah MacLatchy, Laurier president and vice-chancellor. “Richelle’s achievements in science and in the science of teaching, as well as her dedication to accessible learning, are exemplary. As a Laurier graduate and faculty member, she sets an example of teaching excellence across the university.” 

The 3M Teaching Fellowship is Canada’s only cross-disciplinary recognition for post-secondary educators who have demonstrated leadership in teaching excellence. Each year, faculty members are invited to nominate colleagues for the award. From these, 10 Fellows are selected for the honour by 3M Canada and the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.

"Dr. Monaghan is an extraordinary teacher and educational leader, a tireless and playful innovator, and a dedicated mentor to students and colleagues alike,” said Heidi Northwood, provost and vice-president: academic. “Beyond her extraordinary contributions to Laurier, she is a beacon of innovation and a catalyst for positive change in higher education. Her pioneering work has led to sector-leading inclusive science education."

Monaghan’s research focuses on developing accessible university science programming for the visually impaired and using technology and lecture design to align with current knowledge of memory formation and learning. She mentors students who come to science via unconventional and challenging pathways and was nationally recognized for developing a novel tactile poster in collaboration with a blind student who had been discouraged from pursuing science. She develops strategies for successful knowledge acquisition of large volumes of information, such as those in anatomical and physiological sciences, with the ultimate goal for students to use these knowledge bases as foundations for higher-order thinking and conceptual learning.

In his nomination letter, Dean of Science Anthony Clarke describes how Monaghan is known for her dedication to “bringing students to science and bringing science to students,” consistently putting students at the core of her teaching practices and serving as a mentor to faculty members. Clarke outlines the innovative and fun ways Monaghan engages students in her courses, ranging from a metacognitive and kinesthetic cranial nerve chicken dance performed to polka music to help students and educators understand the nerves useful for clinical diagnostics and her “escape the M&M (morbidity and mortality)” escape-box exercise to diagnose and save a fictional patient, to her use of Snapchat filters to help students learn facial expression muscles.

“I am ecstatic to be awarded a 3M National Teaching Fellowship,” said Monaghan. “What a privilege it has been to find ways to make science accessible for students. My hope is that this award further highlights the teaching excellence, innovation and leadership we have among our educators here at Laurier.”

When she graduated from Laurier in 1999, Monaghan became the second of four family members from three generations to graduate from Laurier. She joined Laurier as a faculty member in 2012 the year after completing her PhD in Biology at the University of Waterloo, and has been inspired to continue learning, obtaining a certificate in positive Psychology at Laurier (2016) so she could apply positive psychology principles in course and lecture design, and earning a Doctorate in Education at the University of Western Ontario (2021).

Monaghan was named a Laurier Teaching Fellow (2022) in recognition of her educational leadership. She has also received numerous awards for both her teaching and her scholarly work, including: the Laurier Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence (2017); the Sam Drogo Technology in the Classroom Award (2020) and Gail Jenkins Teaching and Mentorship Award (2017), both from the international Human Anatomy and Physiology Society; and Laurier Merit Awards in 2016, 2017 and 2019.

Monaghan joins Laurier's 3M National Teaching Fellows: Eileen Wood (2016): Psychology; Carol Duncan (2013): Religion and Culture; Mercedes Rowinsky-Geurts (2008): Languages and Literatures; Michel Desjardins (2001): Religion and Culture; and Michael Moore (1993): English and Film Studies.

Learn more about Laurier’s focus on Teaching Excellence.