Photo (L-R): Todd Kamensek and Leah Kuzmuk. Credit: Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health
Congratulations to Todd Kamensek and Leah Kuzmuk for receiving 2021-2022 Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards for their outstanding contributions as UBC Psychology Teaching Assistants (TA).
The Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Award (GTA) recognizes those who will have demonstrated skills, abilities and contributions that result in a high level of respect from undergraduate students and academic or course supervisors.
This year, 19 teaching assistants were awarded this honour. Learn more about our awardees:
Todd Kamensek, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine
Todd Kamensek is a graduate researcher in the Neuroscience of Vision & Action Lab and a doctoral candidate in the Graduate Program in Neuroscience (GPN). Since 2017, Todd has held eight TA appointments and taught 735 students at UBC. Most recently (2021W1), Todd has served as the Instructor in PSYC 370, Behavioural Neuroscience I, a third-year lecture-based large-class undergraduate course. Todd’s extraordinary teaching skills and contributions have also been recognized by the Demetri Papageorgis Teaching Assistant Award presented by UBC Psychology. This award celebrates a passion for teaching, as exemplified well by Todd’s approach to instruction.
Leah Kuzmuk, Psychology, Faculty of Arts
Leah Kuzmuk is a Master’s student in the Graduate Program in Neuroscience and in the Oculomotor Laboratory. Leah joined the GPN in the fall of 2021 after obtaining her Bachelors of Science in Cognitive Systems at UBC, and subsequently worked with the Vancouver Stroke Program as a study manager. She is a passionate contributor to the social and intellectual environment in the GPN and serves on the program’s admissions committee. She received the Killam Graduate Teaching Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions as a TA in Psychology.
A version of this story was originally published on the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health’s website.
