The University of Lethbridge is proud to bestow the Distinguished Teaching Award upon Dr. Leah Fowler, for her inspiring teaching sustained over a 12-year career at the University of Lethbridge.

Her award will be presented at the Spring, 2009 Convocation ceremonies, which take place June 3 and 4 at the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness.

Leah Fowler is a thoughtful, knowledgeable, and creative teacher, informed by years of successful teaching in public schools and at the university level.

A professor in the Faculty of Education, Leah Fowler teaches graduate students and pre-service teachers, supervises education students in practica, and conducts research in education.

Fowler's success as a teacher is based on the uniqueness of her teaching style, making teaching relevant to students' lives, and basing curriculum on students' learning needs. She strives to create a classroom that is informal but intellectually stimulating and challenging, in an atmosphere of respect, humour and personal interest, with a rich depth and breadth of materials.

She views the classroom as a place to push the boundaries of knowledge, discourse and abilities, to develop meaning, and to connect thought with action.

Former students comment that Fowler's teaching has prepared them for success in their own teaching careers.

One particularly valuable aspect is Fowler's focus on "the curriculum of difficulty," which refers to the realities of education and the obstacles fledgling teachers may face in the classroom. She models what it means to be an exemplary teacher and mentor to beginning teachers and colleagues alike.