Congratulations to Dr. JP Catungal who has received the prestigious Killam Teaching Prize.
The award recognizes excellence in teaching and Dr. Catungal joins a celebrated circle of committed and talented instructors at UBC.
Dr. Catungal is an interdisciplinary scholar of critical geography and feminist and queer of colour theorizing. He has taught in the Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice and the Asian Canadian and Asian Migration studies program for ten years. As a first generation, queer and racialized academic from a working-class migrant family, JP is intimately familiar with how alienating and elitist universities can be. His goal as an educator is to make teaching and learning spaces more equitable. He does so by deliberately centering historically marginalized communities’ knowledges in curricula and by bringing organizers, artists and performers as interlocutors and collaborators into his classrooms. Some of his key contributions to GRSJ and ACAM curricula include a studio course on community engaged research, as well as courses on queer of colour worldmaking, and Asian Canadian representation and cultural production.
“This prize means everything to me. It is not lost on me that the current political and institutional climate makes equity-focused teaching and learning challenging and thus even more necessary. Being able to keep learning alongside students, colleagues and community members is an absolute gift, especially in these times. “Maraming salamat” (many thanks) to my teachers and to those whose courage and dedication make GRSJ and ACAM sites of radical hope, joy, and community. The work continues.”
The Killam Teaching Prize is awarded annually to faculty nominated by students, colleagues and alumni in recognition of excellence in teaching.
The Award recipients are recognized at the graduation ceremonies.
