USask professor recognized with prestigious 3M National Teaching Fellowship

“I have always loved teaching and I am very honoured and humbled to be recognized with a 3M Teaching Fellowship,” said Bruni-Bossio. “As a teacher I strive to help students gain confidence in their abilities and in themselves. My goal is to walk with students, so that their learning process is driven by their questions.”

Bruni-Bossio began teaching at USask in the Department of Management and Marketing at the Edwards School of Business in 2010 and currently serves as an associate professor. He developed a reputation as not only an excellent teacher, but as a resourceful and innovative leader and champion for change on campus.

At the USask level, Bruni-Bossio has received the Master Teacher Award, the Provost’s Outstanding New Teacher Award, and the provost’s college award. He has won the MBA Professor of the Year award twice, the Edwards Business Students’ Society Most Effective Professor award twice, and the USask Students’ Union Teaching Award once—all nominated by students. He has also contributed to numerous projects across the institution to positively affect the student learning experience.

This year, the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) and 3M Canada recognized Bruni-Bossio and nine others for their exceptional contributions to teaching and learning in Canadian post-secondary education.

“We see the impact of Dr. Vince Bruni-Bossio’s commitment to teaching excellence and innovative thinking across our campus,” said Dr. Airini (PhD), USask provost and vice-president academic. “Vince leads with commitment, intelligence, and profound sensitivity to the individual and systemic currents around him. It is very rare to find this ability to apply teaching practices at every level of university decision-making and influence. Whether in working with students, or in strategic change meetings, Vince is always engaged as an educator.”

Prior to his current roles at USask, Bruni-Bossio was a professional facilitator and consultant in the areas of leadership, governance, change management, conflict resolution, communications and team dynamics across a variety of sectors, including community-based organizations, industry, and within the campus community.

Bruni-Bossio said that his teaching style is heavily influenced by his martial arts training. He has trained and studied the philosophies of a range of martial arts, including Chi Kung, Tai Chi, Wing Chun, and YiQuan for 25 years, as well as teaching for 15 years.

“In my teaching, I create a practice space similar to a martial arts dojo where students can demonstrate their abilities with the understanding that failure is part of the process,” said Bruni-Bossio. “Students aren’t just learning skills, but also developing their confidence.” 

This is the 10th 3M Fellowship for USask since the award’s inception in 1986. Bruni-Bossio joins previous USask winners: Dr. Jay Wilson (EdD), professor of curriculum studies in 2017; Dr. Fred Phillips (PhD), professor of accounting in 2011; Dr. Baljit Singh (MVSc, PhD), professor of veterinary biomedical sciences in 2009; Dr. Ernie Walker (PhD), professor of archaeology in 2007; Dr. John Thompson (PhD), professor of sociology in 2005; Dr. Rick Schwier (EdD), professor of curriculum studies in 2005; Dr. Len Gusthart (PhD), professor of kinesiology in 2002; Dr. Mel Hosain (PhD), professor of civil engineering in 1994; and Dr. Ron Marken (PhD), professor of English in 1987. In addition, Dr. Colin Laroque (PhD), professor of soil science, joined the Fellowship in 2013 and joined USask in 2014.

Bruni-Bossio will be welcomed into the fellowship at the annual STLHE conference in Ottawa from June 7-10, 2022.