Dr. Taiwo Afolabi
2025 3M National Teaching Fellow
Associate Professor, Department of Media, Art, and Performance, University of Regina
Dr. Taiwo Afolabi is a recognized leader in socially engaged theatre, with a global teaching footprint spanning five continents. His scholarship integrates social justice and decolonization with theatre practice. Taiwo founded the Centre for Socially Engaged Theatre (C-SET), a hub for interdisciplinary learning and social transformation, and co-created the Arts Leadership Training Program (ALTP), empowering BIPOC artists and arts managers in Canada.
Taiwo’s teaching is known for its hands-on, project-based approach, where students tackle real-world issues and engage with diverse community perspectives. His courses inspire students to view theatre as a tool for social change, reflecting his commitment to decolonizing arts education. A student wrote that his classes, “challenge traditional interpretations of classic plays, encouraging students to consider them through a variety of cultural lenses…the result is that his classrooms feel like a community of learning, where each of his student’s insights is valued and explored”
His applied theatre research has led to a Certificate and Diploma in Arts Management and Leadership and a joint doctoral program with the University of the Free State in South Africa. These programs offer students unique opportunities while fostering cross-cultural understanding and collaboration.
Taiwo’s leadership and mentorship is shaping the future of teaching and learning nationally and globally, with impact beyond the classroom, making a difference in students’ lives. A colleague notes he, “has also developed and delivered training in ethical arts practices and leadership, equipping emerging arts leaders with the necessary skills to navigate the complexities of the arts landscape.”
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Mhairi (Vi) Maeers
2003 3M National Teaching Fellow
Centre for Teaching and Learning, University of Regina
Teaching for Mhairi is synonymous with “inspiring others to learn.” A dedicated and innovative teacher, she has been inspiring students and teachers in the local and provincial community to learn mathematics and the art of teaching mathematics since the early 1990s. She has a unique ability to make even the most “math phobic” student enthusiastic about the subject and to take pride in learning. One student writes, “she showed me that math was not a subject where students had to memorize rules, but an area of exploration and discovery. She introduced me and my classmates to ideas and activities which sparked our own imaginations and allowed us to make connections which we may never have seen.” In 1999, Mhairi was awarded the University of Regina Alumni Association Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.
Mhairi’s effectiveness as a teacher extends far beyond the classroom. She has received funding to establish a Centre for Mathematics, Science & Technology Education and to implement a collaborative research project on developing an instructional model for teacher education. Her commitment to collaboration in interdisciplinary work is evident in her active involvement in the University’s Teaching Development Centre where she selflessly assists other faculty members. She has successfully pioneered technology integration projects that are geared to enhance student learning.
Mhairi’s leadership is exemplified by her ability to bring together faculty and students to build on each other’s strengths and to benefit from cooperation and collaboration. For example, she has engineered a project on Mathematics in a Cultural Context which includes faculty and students of First Nations and Metis heritage. In the words of one of her colleagues, “Mhairi is ‘a teacher of teachers’ like all truly great teachers she is human and loving and lives a life of service to others.”
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Meredith Cherland
1997 3M National Teaching Fellow
Faculty of Education, University of Regina
Meredith Cherland has been a dedicated member of the Faculty of Education at the University of Regina since 1978, earning a reputation as an outstanding teacher. She is also highly regarded as a mentor to graduate students. Her expertise in literacy education, combined with her broad academic interests and achievements, enriches her teaching and lends authenticity to her interactions with students. Known for her enthusiastic approach and diverse teaching strategies, Meredith’s passion for her subject consistently made her classes favourites among students.
Beyond her teaching, Meredith has shown a deep commitment to enhancing university education. She served as the first Director of the University of Regina’s Teaching Development Centre and as a founding member of the Committee on University Teaching, providing leadership in establishing policies to improve teaching quality for years to come. She has developed a teacher preparation program for graduate assistants, created the university’s “Inspiring Teaching Awards”, initiated Teaching Circles, and led numerous workshops on teaching excellence. In 1997, she co-chaired the 17th Annual Conference of the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education hosted by the University of Regina, further demonstrating her ongoing dedication to advancing higher education.
Read Meredith Cherland’s recipient profile
