UPEI professor to receive AAU distinguished service award

Dr. Shannon Murray, professor of English and 3M Teaching Fellow at UPEI will be in Halifax, Nova Scotia, tonight to attend the Association of Atlantic Universities' (AAU) annual meeting and dinner, held in conjunction with the AAU Teaching Showcase. Dr. Murray is the recipient of this year's ‘AAU Coordinating Committee on Faculty Development's Distinguished Service Award.'

UPEI President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz said, 'On behalf of UPEI faculty, staff, students and alumni, I extend our congratulations as well as our thanks to Shannon for her dedication to teaching, to the student experience, and to supporting her colleagues through a long commitment to faculty development. We're so pleased the example of high standards in teaching that Shannon has set here on our campus and around the region is being recognized by her peers in this way.'

The ‘Distinguished Service Award' was established to recognize former AAU committee members who have made extraordinary and sustained contributions to faculty development through service. Murray proved her commitment to excellence in teaching by dedicating more than six years to the AAU Committee but has also served as assistant director, presenter, and facilitator for UPEI's Faculty Development Office for many years. In 1996-97, she received the UPEI Annual Award for Excellence in Teaching and, in 2001, was presented with a 3M National Teaching Fellowship.

Murray was nominated for the award by Sue Dawson and Jane Magrath, both UPEI colleagues, and received notice of her recognition from AAU Coordinating Committee on Faculty Development chair, Eileen Herteis. 'Having served with Shannon for some of her time on the AAU Committee, and having witnessed her far-reaching commitment to excellence, I'm delighted she was selected to receive the award,' said Herteis.

An expert in Renaissance literature: Shakespeare, John Bunyan, John Milton and children's literature, especially Early Modern English children's literature, Murray also has research interests in learning communities; active learning; and the senior-year experience. On Saturday, she will share insight into effective learning portfolios at the teaching showcase. This year's AAU event takes place October 28-29 at Mount Saint Vincent University.