Congratulations to Fatima Afzal who has been awarded the History Department Teaching Award.
This award recognizes Fatima’s exceptional achievement in tutorial facilitation, assignment marking, and course management, and many additional contributions to her students’ learning.
Fatima is a PhD candidate in History. Her research focuses on Punjabi literary translations published in the early twentieth century.
Fatima Afzal
“This award means a lot to me because it recognizes the oft-unseen effort that TAs put into facilitating students’ learning,” said Fatima.
“Helping students challenge ideas, grow through discussion, and build their own historical perspectives has been deeply fulfilling, and to be awarded for it is an absolute honour.”
“This award means a lot to me because it recognizes the oft-unseen effort that TAs put into facilitating students’ learning.”
Fatima’s exceptional teaching abilities have earned widespread recognition within the department.
“Fatima has had a significant impact on the many students in History as a thoughtful, innovative, and approachable teacher who is supportive of their learning at the same time,” mentions Prof. Bonnie Effros, Professor and Head of History.
“She has navigated difficult conversations in the classroom, negotiated fraught situations in which students must grapple with the impact of racism and Islamophobia, and engaged undergraduates in her courses with active learning.”
Dr. Anne Murphy, Fatima’s PhD co-supervisor, considers Fatima to be an important part of the teaching mission of the Department. “Fatima was a superior grader for HIST 388: committed and detailed in responses given to students, and remarkably attentive and adaptable in the ever-changing AI environment of that time,” said Dr. Murphy.
“Fatima Afzal’s contributions to the Department are multifold: as a scholar, teacher, peer, and mentor. It is exciting to see this recognized.”
“She has navigated difficult conversations in the classroom, negotiated fraught situations in which students must grapple with the impact of racism and Islamophobia, and engaged undergraduates in her courses with active learning.”
