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Professors from the Departments of Political Science and Communications and Public Policy and from the School of Education will be honoured for their excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service at Spring and Summer Convocations.

 

Dr. Thomas Bateman will receive the John McKendy Memorial Teaching Award, Dr. Shaun Narine will receive the University Scholarship Award, and Dr. Jamie Gillies will receive the University Service Award at Spring Convocation on May 20.

 

Professor Scott Parks, of the School of Education, will receive the Excellence in Part-Time Teaching Award at Summer Convocation on July 3.

 

“One of our graduating students recently posted that the growth, trust, and opportunities she received from her education at 91̽�� were life-changing — her perspective exemplifies the quality of education offered to all our students,” said Dr. M. Nauman Farooqi, St. 91̽�� President and Vice-Chancellor.

 

“Honouring faculty for achieving excellence in their core activities signifies that our professors deliver a transformative education that is relevant and vital to each student and essential to our society.”

 

“I want to offer congratulations to our award winners. We are looking forward to publicly honouring their achievements as we celebrate the 91̽�� Class of 2026 at Spring and Summer Convocations,” Farooqi added.

 

John McKendy Memorial Teaching Award - Dr. Thomas Bateman

Dr. Thomas Bateman holds a BA and MA from the University of Calgary, and a PhD from the University of Alberta. Since becoming a faculty member in 2003, he has developed more than fifteen new courses in Political Science, Law, Politics, and Society, and Great Books, the latter in areas of literature, philosophy, and theology. His approach to teaching, enthusiasm for his subjects, and high standards and expectations greatly appeals to his students and inspires them. He utilizes a variety of pedagogies, including experiential learning and multi-disciplinary approaches, and his teaching centres on achieving students’ success through classroom engagement and mastery of key texts; as a result, students complete his courses well-prepared and enthused about the content. Working with the Legislative Assembly, he launched a New Brunswick Legislative Internship Program which is open to all senior post-secondary students in the province. Bateman recently developed the successful Law, Politics, and Society program which explores how law and politics intersect in Canada. Many of his students have gone on to be professors, lawyers, or involved in public administration or politics—each credit Dr. Bateman with having a profound impact on their lives.

 

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Excellence in Part-time Teaching Award - Professor Scott Parks

Professor Scott Parks has worked in the K-12 public education system for 28 years as a technology educator, district technology mentor, and school administrator, and he has taught part-time in the School of Education for 18 years. He holds a BSc, BEd and MEd from the University of New Brunswick. His courses at 91̽�� focus on technology education and integrating technology in the classroom. They are designed to foster confidence, adaptability, and ethical responsibility in the use of technology by teachers. His students are encouraged to experiment, collaborate, and reflect critically on digital tools. His classes result in consistently high levels of engagement, practical skill development, and professional confidence. Deeply engaged in professional learning, he stays current in a rapidly evolving field through conferences, technology and cybersecurity education, and curriculum development. Through his teaching and mentorship, Professor Parks has positively influenced the professional learning of countless teachers presently working in school systems across Canada.

 

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University Scholarship Award - Dr. Shaun Narine

Dr. Shaun Narine holds a BA and MA from the University of Alberta, and a PhD from the University of Toronto, and began teaching in the Department of Political Science in 2002 where he is currently Chair. He has made extensive contributions to the field of international relations and has published two scholarly books on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. He has authored or co-authored 33 peer-reviewed research articles or chapters in edited books, a number of which have been included in annual compilations. He has received 16 competitive awards for his research. He has presented at over 100 conferences around the world and organized numerous academic events and workshops, including the popular 91̽�� Faculty Public Lecture Series. He regularly contributes editorials to The Conversation, The Hill Times, Rabble.ca, and Asia Times, bringing scholarly expertise to wider audiences. He has consulted for the Canadian Defense and Security Foresight Group and Global Affairs Canada, and has been a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies in Singapore.

 

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University Service Award - Dr. Jamie Gillies

Dr. Jamie Gillies is Chair of the Department of Journalism and Communications, and holds a BA from the University of Victoria, and an MA and PhD from University of British Columbia. Over 14 years, he has established a record of service to the university helping to increase its profile. He is a political commentator for the CBC, CTV, The Globe and Mail, Bloomberg, The National Post, and Brunswick News. He is a regular presence on the CBC where he offers analysis on local, provincial, and national issues, and he is a weekly contributor to the CBC New Brunswick political panel. Dr. Gillies is also Executive Director of the Frank McKenna Centre for Communications and Public Policy and he serves on the Board of Directors for the Atlantic Human Rights Centre and Dalton Camp Endowment. He regularly delivers talks to community organizations and volunteers with many groups. He is only the second faculty member to receive each of the merit awards for teaching, scholarship and service.