MASc candidate Mehdi Golozar short-listed among 185 teaching assistants for a 2011 U of T Teaching Excellence Award
[sharexy]
Photo: MASc candidate Mehdi Golozar (middle) at the 2011 ASM Student Poster Night
May 06, 2011
Effective communication skills, excellent organizational skills, comprehensive knowledge of ones subject area, and the ability to encourage student participation are among the common selection criteria for the University of Toronto-wide Teaching Assistants’ Training Program (TATP) Teaching Excellence Award. And so, it’s no surprise when Mr. Mehdi Golozar (MSE 0T9, MASc Candidate), got short-listed among 550 nominations for 185 TAs for the award this year.
Golozar, a MASc candidate supervised by Associate Professor Thomas Coyle (MSE) in the Centre for Advanced Coating Technologies, is passionate about teaching and research in the field of materials engineering. In the last two years, he has assisted in the instruction of the following courses with diligence and pride:
- MSE 101: Introduction to Materials Science & Engineering
- MSE 260: Molecules & Materials
- MSE 421: Solid State Processing & Surface Treatment
- MSE 561: Engineered Ceramics
“As a teaching assistant, Mehdi works tirelessly to convey his excitement towards education to his students,” describes Dr. Scott Ramsay, Adjunct Professor and MSE 101 Instructor, in his letter of support for Mr. Golozar’s nomination. “He is highly personable and has excellent interpersonal skills. He is organized, honest, and very hard-working. When I train new lab TAs, I often use Mehdi as an example of the level of performance I would like new TAs to strive for.”
“I am extremely honoured and thankful to my students and faculty members who nominated me for this award,” says Golozar. “My goal as a TA is to convey a proactive approach to problem solving to our undergraduate students, to enable them to depict the practical side of engineering theories while encouraging them to take on additional responsibilities, and to applaud them when they succeed.”
“Mehdi Golozar embodies the spirit of excellence in teaching through engagement, encouragement, and cognitive learning that results in positive learning outcomes for our students,” says Professor Steven Thorpe, Associate Chair, Graduate Studies. “We are fortunate to have such a competent and dedicated TA within our Department.”