StFX professor Dr. Martin van Bommel named one of Atlantic Canada’s best teachers

A respected StFX professor has been recognized Atlantic-wide for his excellence in teaching.

Computer science professor Dr. Martin van Bommel has been named recipient of the 2008 Association of Atlantic University (AAU) Distinguished Teaching Award. He will receive the honour Sept. 17 during a banquet in Fredericton.

“My first reaction was ‘no way.’ It just floored me. I am very flattered,” a humble and excited Dr. van Bommel said in an interview. Others though were quick to sing his praise.

StFX president Dr. Sean Riley, faculty members and former students wrote glowing letters in a nomination package for the award, which is based on an educator’s overall demonstration of knowledge, their ability to engage students and inspire a lifelong interest in learning.

The news marks the second consecutive year a StFX faculty member has won the award.

Human kinetics professor Dr. Angie Thompson received the honour in 2007.

Dr. van Bommel says for him the primary draw is seeing the students excel, and the ability at StFX – without huge class sizes — to treat students as individuals.
Dr. van Bommel graduated from StFX in 1988, and says he had such a wonderful experience with his professors, he chose to return and continue the tradition of leaving a lasting impression on students. “What inspired me to go into teaching in the first place were the professors here at StFX. I was inspired by their interactions with students, treating them as individuals, taking the extra time, and involving students in their research.”

Since 1995, Dr. van Bommel has taught more than 20 different courses in computer science, information systems, engineering and mathematics. He won StFX’s Outstanding Teaching Award in 2006.

Students and staff often comment on his passion for his work, his dedication to students, and his open door policy. In quantitative course evaluations, he is well above university and department norms, with students repeating how he facilitates learning in an atmosphere were they feel comfortable asking questions, and learning is the ultimate goal.

He also supervises about three students a year, chairs the departmental graduate studies committee, which oversees the newly developed master’s in computer science program, and has been chair of the department of mathematics, statistics and computer science since 2004. His research program has been strong, maintaining NSERC Discovery Grant support since 1997.