Aaron Doyle wins 2006 Capital Educators’ Award

by Cindy Robinson

Aaron Doyle, an assistant professor in Carleton’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology, was honoured with a Capital Educators’ Award in front of a capacity crowd at the 5th annual EduGala event held on May 4 at Algonquin College.

“I know a number of people who deserve this more than I,” said a humble Doyle during his acceptance speech. He went on to thank his colleagues, students, family, and the Educational Development Centre for providing training opportunities to Carleton’s faculty.

Doyle was one of more than 350 local educators nominated for the awards, which recognize individuals who have made a significant impact on the lives of their students by acting as positive role models, using innovative teaching strategies and instilling a passion for learning. The awards are sponsored by the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation.

“Being named a finalist in the Capital Educators’ Awards is a significant honour for any teacher or professor in our region,” said President David Atkinson, who was on hand to congratulate Doyle at the event. “The nomination itself is an acknowledgement from their local academic community that they are held in high esteem.”

Doyle came to Carleton in 2002 and is a former journalist who often draws on his experiences covering crime when teaching criminology and media sociology. He is no stranger to winning teaching awards, having twice received the Carleton University Students’ Association Teaching Excellence Awards in 2003 and 2004.

Among other things, Doyle, who was also a finalist at last year’s awards ceremony, is renowned for his ability to remember all the student’s names in his classes-which can number more than 100.

But it is for his ability to support and encourage his students that Doyle is best known. Students say that Doyle does not lecture but that he works “alongside his students in an intellectual journey of the unknown.”

Craig Dowden, Department of Psychology was also honoured at the event.

Carleton’s previous Capital Educators’ Awards winners from FASS have included:

* 2004: Jo-Anne LeFevre, Department of Psychology; Robynne Neugebauer , Department of Sociology and Anthropology; Simon Power, Department of Economics
* 2003: Joanna Pozzulo, Department of Psychology
* 2002: Alan Gillmor, School for Studies in Art and Culture