3 exceptional Fine Arts instructors earn 2014 Distinguished Teaching Awards

Alice Ming Wai Jim — Emerging Award

Alice Ming Wai Jim, an associate professor in the Department of Art History, began at Concordia in 2006. She teaches courses on contemporary art, media art, ethnocultural art histories, international art exhibitions and curatorial studies.

“My teaching aspires to the same values of diversity, accessibility, innovation and academic excellence that I’ve seen at the university since time I arrived,” she said.

As a researcher, Jim investigates contemporary Asian and Asian-Canadian art, with a focus on recent media art, theories of representation and the relationship between remix culture and place identity. She carries her enthusiasm for those subjects into the classroom.

“My pedagogical practice, learning activities and assignments are oriented and designed to increase the ability of students of all learning styles to succeed in my courses.”

Rhona Richman Kenneally — Established Award

For Rhona Richman Kenneally, an associate professor in the Department of Design and Computation Arts, interacting with students is a fundamental part of any class.

“My approach and teaching method for each course, while satisfying all formal curriculum requirements, also includes innovations that facilitate a dynamic, nurturing and engagingly responsive exchange of knowledge and expertise,” she said.

Richman Kenneally’s current research focuses on domestic foodscapes — the spaces in the home where food is stored, prepared and eaten — in mid-20th-century households in Ireland.  Since first arriving at Concordia as a part-time instructor in 1999, she has strived to turn her classes into unique learning experiences.

Richman Kenneally became an associate professor in 2001 and served as chair of the Department of Design and Computation Arts from 2010 to 2012.

“Students have multiple opportunities to participate actively and explore diverse aspects of course material that is relevant to present-day matters of concern, and to feel a sense of accomplishment in doing so.”

Stephanie Russ — Established Award

“My approach to teaching is to guide the individual development of each student and expand the possibilities the mediums have to offer,” said Stephanie Russ, who has served as part-time instructor in the Department of Studio Arts since 1995.

Russ’s research explores death, along with remnants and traces of people’s lives. While she works primarily in lithography, UV screen-printing and digital print, she tailors her classroom materials to the interests of her students and the art world as a whole.

“I teach in print but see each student’s art practice as unique,” she said. “I modify my teaching to encompass the interdisciplinary approaches being used in art-making today.”

Find out about the 13 Concordia artists whose work will be featured in the Montreal biennale.