Cathy Egan, a professor in Conestoga’s School of Health & Life Sciences, has been awarded the 2021 Aubrey Hagar Distinguished Teaching Award in recognition of her leadership and outstanding contributions to teaching and learning. The award was presented by President John Tibbits on June 10 at the closing ceremonies of the college’s annual Employees for Excellence in Education (E3) conference, held virtually this year as a result of continued pandemic restrictions.
Cathy Egan has been awarded the 2021 Aubrey Hagar Distinguished Teaching Award in recognition of her leadership and outstanding contributions to teaching and learning.
Egan joined Conestoga in 2016 after more than 20 years as a public health professional, and has been instrumental in the development and delivery of the college’s Bachelor of Environmental Public Health program since its inception.
Described as a creative and innovative educator who is passionate about student success, Egan embraces the use of technology to expand and enrich curriculum and has developed innovative tools and approaches to support students’ continued learning and skills development through the pandemic.
Colleagues and students alike praise her professionalism and integrity, and describe her as fair, trustworthy and reliable. Egan provides leadership for curriculum and program development and remains actively engaged with a broad network of industry professionals and community partners.
In her remarks, Egan congratulated all of this year’s Hagar award nominees for their efforts through a challenging year, pointing out that “all of you have done extraordinary things to help students succeed,” and suggesting that such efforts will need to continue for some time “in order to keep everyone safe, continue to deliver quality programming and to deal with the residual mental health, economic and other challenges from the pandemic on our students and ourselves.”
Established in 1988, the Aubrey Hagar Distinguished Teaching Award is named in honour of respected teacher, mentor and innovator Aubrey Hagar, who fostered the pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning. A member of the college’s founding Board of Governors, he went on to provide leadership to the college for more than 20 years in roles that included Director of Academic and College Planning as well as Director of Strategic Planning.
Candidates for the annual award are nominated by their students and peers and evaluated by a selection committee based on their outstanding contributions in the areas of learning design, innovation and creativity, integrity and professionalism, promotion of quality in education, concern and sensitivity for students, and ambassadorship for the college.