Connections

Ray Chateau and Christina Clements are two of Ontario's top professors.

Nominated by students, graduates and faculty, Ray and Christina earned the inaugural Leadership in Faculty Teaching Award (LIFT). The award is presented to 100 college and university faculty members from across the province who influence, motivate and inspire students while demonstrating leadership in teaching methods for Ontario's diverse student body.

"I am very honoured to receive this award," says Ray Chateau, Professor and Program Coordinator of the Professional Golf Management (PGM) program. "The award meant a lot to the faculty and staff," adds Advertising Professor Christina Clements. "They were really proud of me."

Ray and Christina were chosen because of the caring they demonstrated for their students and their enthusiasm for teaching. They encouraged colleagues and introduced innovative technology to enhance student achievement. They made a point of learning their students' names within the first few weeks of class and went out of their way to help them with day-to-day choices.

Christina left advertising clients such as Pampers, Crest and Revlon because they "wanted her soul." While she hasn't sacrificed her soul at Humber, she has given her heart. She is so close to her students that she knows who drives their siblings to school and who bartends on weeknights. "Christina diligently works with students outside of class to ensure work meets her expectations and exceeds theirs," says colleague Nancy Epner. "She constantly tweaks, improves and adds to her courses to improve student learning."

"Christina not only helped me in my academics, but when I faced some difficult times in my family life, she supported and encouraged me," one advertising student says. "She always checked up on how I was coping."

Mehmood Hassan, a student in the PGM program, says Ray is his mentor and helped him with a workstudy job that enabled him to stay in school. "When I needed some direction career-wise, Ray offered me the greatest advice possible, as well as peace of mind and heart."

Ray's students agree that he continually impresses them with his dedication. "In his lectures he carefully manages the delivery of academic content while engaging his students to think," Mehmood says.

"Christina talks for only a short time in class, then gives activities that allow the students to do the work," colleague John Dickason explains. Students are further engaged by her innovative website, which provides blogs, podcasts and links to international sites where students see and critique commercials.

To stay current with the trends in advertising, she co-developed an interdisciplinary teaching approach, combining students from advertising, copywriting and graphic design to simulate an advertising agency. Seeing the need for Photoshop expertise, she initiated a workshop. She also has her students develop websites, "one of the things students absolutely have to learn today," says John.

Similarly, Ray is responsible for the state-of-theart technology in the PGM program. He established the only indoor teaching Golf Lab and player development program in Ontario. Its high-tech teaching equipment not only helps students become better golf instructors, it helps increase the number of students passing the Playing Ability Test, a requirement for membership in the Canadian Professional Golfers' Association (CPGA).

Bob Beauchemin, a PGM faculty member, praises Ray for strong leadership. "Ray has taken the program from what it was to what it is today. We do a lot of things differently now." He says Ray has brought professionals from specific industries "who are good in business, make good role models and are educated and current in their subject."

Chris Dyke, a member of the PGM Advisory Council and Associate Professional at Magna Golf Club, says Ray is responsible for improving the standards of golf professionals throughout the province. "Because of Humber's high standards and the level of knowledge imparted to students, all the programs in the province have increased their standards. Seventy percent of all the golf professionals in the GTA are Humber grads."

"Ray is truly interested in being involved in the industry, and not just with the golf professionals, but with all facets of the business," adds Kirsten Brown, a graduate working on a Master's in Landscape Architecture at Guelph. "He has networked himself into the industry and knows all the major players."

Both Christina and Ray know their alumni contribute to the reputation of their programs and keep a dynamic list of graduates. They are aware of the value of transfer credits for higher education options and encourage lifelong learning, emailing students with information on job postings and encouraging networking opportunities. "Ray is the reason why all of us leaving the program are ensured jobs in the country's top facilities," says graduate Ryan Logan.

Graduate Brandy Martin, an insight analyst at Cadbury Adams, credits Christina with her passion for the marketing industry. "I would not be where I am today without her."