School of Physical and Occupational Therapy professor received the David Thomson Award for Graduate Supervision and Teaching during Spring Convocation
Nancy Mayo, PT, PhD, Distinguished James McGill Professor in the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy was recognized by her students and peers with the David Thomson Award for Graduate Supervision and Teaching for her outstanding contributions to promoting graduate student excellence.
Prof. Mayo, who is also Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Division of Geriatrics, and Research Scientist at the Centre for Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Research Institute of the McGill University Hospital Centre, is a committed educator having supervised over 100 students in Rehabilitation Science, Epidemiology, Experimental Surgery and Experimental Medicine, 42 of them at the doctoral level.
“Being nominated by my students makes this recognition particularly special,” says Prof. Mayo. “I have always considered supervising a graduate student an honour and a privilege. Pursuing graduate studies is only about meeting the needs of the student and I take this responsibility very seriously.”
Prof. Mayo’s respectful and well-structured approach to supervision, grounded in a ‘learning by doing’ philosophy, has had a profoundly positive impact on her many students, who say she has a remarkable ability to make complex ideas accessible and meaningful. While she sets high standards, she provides unwavering support and is always available to guide her students while ensuring their overall well-being. They consistently highlight her engaging teaching style, which fosters critical thinking, active participation, curiosity, and confidence – transforming every experience into an opportunity for growth and discovery.
“Students need to recognize their strengths and use these innate talents and experiences to strengthen all the different skills required to succeed in their graduate studies,” she adds. “Learning through doing provides students with opportunities to experience successes raising their confidence to pursue the challenges of graduate education. I feel privileged to have journeyed with so many engaged and thoughtful students over the years. I am truly honoured to receive this award and to be nominated by the students I have supervised just makes it that much more meaningful to me.”
Prof. Mayo’s contributions to graduate studies, including service on key committees and efforts to develop policies for AI use will have impacts on the training of emerging scholars for years to come.