The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 threw a series of new challenges our way. Lecturers, tutors, and students have had to adapt to more digital ways of learning and delivering teaching. All of us have continued to show incredible resilience to ensure both the students and teachers experience excellence in education.

We are thrilled to announce that one of our own tutors, PhD Candidate in Biological Anthropology – Karen Cooke – received one of three 2020 CASS Dean’s Commendation for Tutoring or Demonstrating awards. Karen has been a tutor for our School on multiple undergraduate and postgraduate projects since 2019, including courses such as Dental Anthropology Masterclass (ARCH8037), Human Skeletal Analysis (BIAN2015/6517), and Ancient Health and Disease (BIAN3125/6512).

All of these courses involve a practical component of laboratory based teaching and demonstrating to allow students to examine human bone and tooth cast anatomy. Karen has diligently applied her unique teaching philosophy and pedagogical methods throughout these courses using both online and in-person means. We are pleased her efforts and passion have been recognised through the CASS Dean’s 2020 Commendations for Excellence in Education award.

Congratulations!