This story is part of a series on the 2024 Awards of Excellence recipients.

The highly coveted awards are presented annually to faculty, support staff and administrative employees in celebration of the impact they have on students, colleagues, and the college at large. A team award is also given out to a group of employees who have demonstrated outstanding collaborative work. All award winners receive a dedicated parking spot on campus.

Professor Alex MacGregor was among a group of Niagara College employees who were recognized with Awards of Excellence at the College’s 2024 Niagara Day event, held on October 23.

The recipient of the Faculty Award of Excellence, MacGregor is known for his exemplary dedication to student success in the School of English Language Studies where he uses creative teaching strategies to help students learn English for the real world.

An innovator and expert in curriculum development and design, MacGregor tailors teaching methods for the unique needs of students and creates open, engaging, and dynamic classroom environments where students are supported to realize their full potential. He designs projects with an emphasis on applying language skills to real-life scenarios, fostering problem-solving abilities and cultural awareness in his students, and is a positive role model and mentor for new faculty.

Over his teaching career, MacGregor has contributed to the reputation of NC as a leader in language acquisition through local, national, and international workshops and presentations, and co-authored a popular textbook and is active in academic research that has been featured in the TESOL Journal. In 2018, he was recognized by TESL Ontario with the prestigious Sparks of Excellence Award, celebrating his efforts to advance the ESL profession and his work supporting professional development and best practices.

InsideNC caught up with Professor MacGregor to learn more about his contributions to the College.

How long have you worked at the College and what class(es) do you teach?

I started at the College in 2006 and became fulltime in 2009.

I teach English as a Second Language to international students, and Teaching Methodologies in our Post Grad TESL teacher training program.

What does it mean to you to be recognized by your colleagues and the College with this award?

It means a lot. Being recognized for excellence by my colleagues gives me a great honour, of course, but it allows all of us to shine and reflect on our value here as teachers. It’s nice to have a moment in the sun for all of us, to celebrate the high quality of and importance of the work we all do in the classrooms.

How do you support students in realizing their full potential?

Our team has spent years developing and refining course outcomes that meet student needs, so we know where our students need to be at the end of each term. I plan activities that engage students in challenging, thought-provoking activities that prepare them for what’s next, whether it is further study, or entering the job force in Canada or their home country.

In class, my students develop and refine skills they need, and for the most part, they recognize the value of these activities and are very eager and active in class.

What keeps you motivated to continuously innovate and adapt your teaching methods to create open, engaging and dynamic classroom environments for students?

Teaching is my life, it has been for half a century. Every lesson plan, every task design, every input I have in curriculum design is a piece of art for me. I spend my time like an artist in an atelier crafting these things with creativity and passion and ultimately an end goal: that the users, my students, will grow and be successful.

What do you consider to be the most rewarding aspect of your work?

Consistent, regular, positive feedback I get from students, and sometimes colleagues, like being nominated for this award.