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L-R: Dr. Linda Macdonald, Joan Davison Conrod, Graham Steele

The 2017–2018 Management Teaching Excellence Awards (MTEAs) were presented in March to three professors in the Faculty of Management.

Graham Steele, who teaches Legal Aspects of Business, joined the Rowe School of Business in 2015. He brings his experience as a practitioner in law and politics, which his students say help make his classes engaging and interactive. He was the coach for Dal's 2018 Jeux du Commerce Central debate team.

Katie Flanagan, the commerce student who presented his award, notes his "sincere concern for student success," and says that he is "knowledgeable, compassionate, hard-working and charismatic."

Linda Macdonald teaches Business Communications. She was the director of the Rowe School's International Student Success Program from 2011 to 2017, helping hundreds of international students access academic support, networking opportunities and social events. She received the Best Professor Award from the Chinese Students and Scholars' Association in 2015. She has also served as an All-Canadian Academic Mentor.

"Her classroom provides a welcoming place for students where it’s okay to make mistakes and learn from them," says commerce student Sarah Drover, who presented her award. "Not only is she supportive to those she teaches, but Linda is also one of the go-to faculty for support of initiatives outside the classroom, such as judging case competitions."

Joan Davison Conrod is an accounting professor who has taught in the Rowe School for over 35 years. Her previous honours include the Archibald Award, the Alumni Award for Teaching Excellence and a 3M National Teaching Fellowship. She has contributed to accounting education on a national level through her service to the Chartered Professional Accountants.

"Joan is the type of professor that, when you look back on your university experience, you are thankful to have had," says Joe Gladnick, one of the commerce students who presented Joan's award. "As a student athlete, I have found her very supportive of the commitment I’ve made not only to my degree, but to my team as well." Hilary Beck adds: "my expectations were far exceeded by Joan’s class. Her enthusiasm for teaching, care for her students and incredible knowledge are so evident in each lecture."

Given annually, the MTEAs celebrate teachers who, per the award’s guidelines, “display the qualities of superior teaching, excellent understanding of the subject area and interest in the needs of the students.” Although candidates are not nominated by students, Student Ratings of Instruction scores are integral to the selection process, and the selection committee includes student members. First awarded in 2010, the MTEAs are made possible by a donation from alumnus Bill Black.