5 faculty members receive 2026 President's Teaching Awards

Five University of Toronto faculty members have been recognized with 2026 President's Teaching Awards – the university’s highest honour for teaching excellence, educational innovation and educational leadership.

Recipients of President's Teaching Awards are given an annual professional development allowance of $10,000 per year for five years, and are designated members of the President's Teaching Academy for a minimum of five years. 

Academy members participate in a range of university events including addressing convocation ceremonies, delivering public lectures, participating in conferences and new faculty orientations, or facilitating teaching and learning workshops.

The recipients of the 2026 President's Teaching Awards are: 

• Mairi Cowan – professor, teaching stream, department of historical studies and Institute for the Study of University Pedagogy, U of T Mississauga; department of history and Centre for Medieval Studies, Faculty of Arts & Science

• Robin Elliott – professor and Jean A. Chalmers Chair in Canadian Music, Faculty of Music

• Robert Irish – associate professor, teaching stream, Institute for Studies in Transdisciplinary Engineering Education and Practice, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

• Michael Reid – associate professor, teaching stream, David A. Dunlap department of astronomy and astrophysics, Faculty of Arts & Science

• Olivier St-Cyr – associate professor, teaching stream, Faculty of Information

Read more about President's Teaching Award