Concordia professor among Canada's best
Concordia University Marketing Professor Jordan LeBel has been awarded a 3M National Teaching Fellowship in recognition of his contributions to higher education in Canada.
LeBel, who is also director of Concordia’s Luc Beauregard Centre of Excellence in Communications Research in the John Molson School of Business, is now part of a select community of educators who are recognized nationally both for their teaching skills and leadership.
The fellowship was created in 1986, when the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and 3M Canada joined together with the goal of rewarding exceptional contributions to teaching and learning at Canadian universities.
The community of 3M National Teaching Fellows is now nationally renowned for its commitment to enhancing the educational experience of students across the country.
"Professor LeBel's work to influence the quality and direction of education upholds the importance we place on pedagogy. This recognition speaks to Concordia's institution-wide support for innovation in the classroom," says Alan Shepard, Concordia’s president and vice-chancellor.
A graduate of Cornell and McGill universities, LeBel joined Concordia in 2000. A former chef and restaurant critic, LeBel has a wide-ranging expertise related to food and foodservice marketing. He specializes in the psychology of food choices, eating behaviour and food organizations’ marketing and communication practices.
Affectionately nicknamed Dr. Chocolate, he is a highly sought-after expert on the subject of comfort foods and particularly chocolate. He is also a major proponent of online education and is the co-developer of the award-winning online course Marketing Yourself.
LeBel’s innovative and energetic approach to teaching and his ability to bring “real life” situations into the classroom are some of the elements that earned this induction into the Council of 3M National Teaching Fellows. But for him, the real reward comes from seeing students evolve into well-rounded thinkers and doers. “We have exceptional students,” he says.
“They come to Concordia without any prior knowledge of the ins and outs of food marketing. By the end of my course, they can prepare a presentation that I would put up against any consulting agency.
“In the end, what matters is that the students have a lasting takeaway,” says LeBel, who strives to keep his course material relevant and engaging and encourages his students to draw from their own experiences.
LeBel also shares his expertise with the local community through his work as vice-president of the Board of Directors of Youth Employment Services, a non-profit organization that helps artists and professionals find jobs and helps entrepreneurs launch their businesses.
Rather than a cash prize, 3M National Teaching Fellowship invites new winners from across the country to gather together for a special retreat. There, they engage in in-depth discussions on teaching and learning and form lasting connections with one another as they strive to find innovative ways to improve university education in Canada.
Related links:
• Jordan LeBel’s profile page
• Jordan LeBel’s personal web page
• Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business
• 3M Teaching Fellows
• Past Concordia 3M recipients