Otago's stand-out postgraduate supervisors celebrated

Outstanding supervisors of postgraduate students were recognised last night at an event run jointly by the University of Otago and the Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA).

Fourteen academic staff from across the University of Otago were shortlisted for the annual OUSA Supervisor of the Year Awards this year from a total of 94 nominations.

The overall winner of the 2012 OUSA Supervisor of the Year award is Associate Professor Poia Rewi of Te Tumu: The School of Maori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies. Winner of the 2012 OUSA New Supervisor of the Year award is Department of Human Nutrition Lecturer Dr Katherine Black.

The annual awards recognise the contribution made by supervisors to the success of students researching and writing doctoral, Masters and postgraduate diploma theses and dissertations.

Graduate Research Services Manager, Claire Gallop, says that the Awards are a fitting way to kick off the University’s annual Graduate Research Month.

“High quality supervision plays a key role in ensuring research students can reach their full potential. These Awards provide a great opportunity to recognise and celebrate supervisors who give excellent guidance and support to students throughout an academic and personal journey that can last several years.”

A student committee considered all nominations and selected the finalists and winners. These are:

Dr Katherine Black
(Human Nutrition)
** New Supervisor of the Year **

Dr Rachel Brown
(Human Nutrition)
** Sciences Division Winner**

Associate Professor Stephen Cranefield
(Information Science)
** Commerce Division Winner **

Professor Stephen Duffull
(Pharmacy)

Dr Jacob Edmond
(English)

** Humanities Division Winner **

Professor Ewan Fordyce
(Geology)

Associate Professor Steve Kerr
(Pharmacology & Toxicology)
** Health Sciences Division Winner **

Professor Jules Kieser
(Dentistry)

Associate Professor Holger Regenbrecht
(Information Science)

Associate Professor Poia Rewi
(Te Tumu)
** 2012 OUSA Supervisor of the Year **

Dr Chris Rosin
(Centre for Sustainability)

Associate Professor Rachel Spronken-Smith
(Higher Education Development Centre)

Dr Noel Waite
(Applied Sciences)

Associate Professor Peter Whigham
(Information Science)