News

Dr. Nancy McLean, Department of Plant & Animal Sciences is the recipient of the Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture 2015 Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence.

Dr. McLean has been teaching on the Agricultural campus since 1997, but she has been part of the AC family for much longer. She grew up on the campus farm, watching her father manage the crops and is also a proud alum of NSAC. She teaches students at all levels – diploma, degree and graduate – and shows the same level of commitment and interest with all of them.

“Nancy McLean’s great strength as a teacher is her unwavering commitment to students, said Associate Dean Academic Dr. Claude Caldwell.  “She tends to see her courses and the overall Dalhousie experience through their eyes. That perhaps explains her ability to instill both an understanding and an enthusiasm for learning in her students,” he added.  “It also explains why she is such a strong advocate and mentor for students; she immediately sees where things could be improved and does her best to make our system better for them.  She understands who we are and what the “aggie” academic experience should be. She certainly is deserving of the 2015 Teaching Award.”

Over the years, Dr. McLean has developed and maintained an animated and enthusiastic teaching style. Her students report that she has a particular strength in taking complex topics and breaking them down into understandable and relevant components. Her goal as a teacher is “to empower students by de-mystifying the material and encouraging curiosity.” She taps into her personal agricultural experience and her research projects to help students understand the context for the scientific concepts she teaches. She readily conveys her passion for her subject to the students, getting them excited about the topics, too.

Above all, Dr. McLean is committed to student success.  She incorporates multiple methods of delivering material into her teaching, using stories and metaphors to help students remember and understand the information she presents. She serves as both a formal and informal advisor for many students and is always available to discuss anything from course options to career objectives, or even personal problems.

She has spent countless hours helping students through the fourth-year-project experience, including providing assistance with the challenges of statistics. Students know that they can rely on her to listen, provide solid advice and help them laugh when they’re feeling discouraged.

Congratulations Dr. McLean