Funké Aladejebi, Benjamin Hoy

Early or Alternative Career Award, Canadian history

Funké Aladejebi

Funké Aladejebi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at the University of Toronto. Her nomination package impressed with diverse primary source engagement across all levels of instruction, as well as an incredible dedication to mentorship, advocacy, and inclusion in her teaching. Dr. Aladejebi’s pedagogical approach masterfully incorporates skill development and contemporary application, social justice and inclusion, accessible learning models, as well as public history and engagement. The development of her two hundred level course “Black Canadian History” led to her foundational role in the creation of the Certificate in Black Canadian Studies, the first of its kind at the University of Toronto. The committee was particularly impressed with her commitment to extending primary source engagement beyond traditional archives and creating opportunities to bring public history and collaboration into her instruction. She continuously seeks to create exceptional experiences for her students, such as inviting Clement Virgo, critically acclaimed director of the series adaptation of “The Book of Negroes”, to her classroom. Above all, Professor Aladejebi demonstrates an incredible dedication to student learning and the creation of community.

Early or Alternative Career Award, other than Canadian history
The prize was not awarded this year.

Open Career State Award, Canadian history

Benjamin Hoy

Benjamin Hoy is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Hoy’s nomination package provides evidence of his impressive ability to make history come alive in appropriately complex ways as well as his innovative use of a wide range of primary sources in the classroom. By incorporating primary sources effortlessly into lesson plans, he allows for students to not only learn history, but learn history as historians do. Thus, he offers students the toolset and confidence necessary to explore historical questions that would otherwise seem out of reach. The committee was particularly impressed by commitment to the teaching community.  Dr. Hoy attended 41 pedagogical workshops, training, and certification programs offered by the History Department, professional bodies, and the Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching and Learning at USask, and he earned a second teaching certification for online teaching in 2020. He also developed two games for instructional purposes. For example, Escaping the Office of Professor Brutalis teaches students how to learn about thesis statements, grammar, plagiarism, and the Chicago Style citation system by solving puzzles. Above all, Professor Hoy demonstrates an impressive commitment to fostering community in the classroom and student learning.

Open Career State Award, other than Canadian history
The prize was not awarded this year.