Tanya Broesch awarded 2022 Barry Beyerstein Award for Excellence in Teaching

Associate professor and developmental psychology area coordinator Dr. Tanya Broesch has been awarded the 2022 Barry Beyerstein Award for Excellence in Teaching. Based on nominations from students, this award has been given annually to recognize excellent teaching of regular faculty. Within the department, Broesch teaches PSYC 250 (Introduction to Developmental Psychology), PSYC 352  (Culture and Cognition) and PSYC 450 (Advanced Topics in Developmental Psychology). 

Student feedback has highlighted Broesch’s enthusiasm in helping students develop a critical perspective when evaluating research. 

“Dr. Broesch is an outstanding professor who prompts and challenges her students to think broadly about empirical research, drill down the specifics of our ideas, and ask ourselves why this research is considered developmental psychology,” writes one student. 

Many students have also noted Broesch’s student-centered approach to learning and how it has made a difference in their learning and well-being. 

As one student says, “Tanya helped foster an incredibly inclusive and positive environment. She always endeavored to provide her students with the most appropriate and effective way of learning by fostering creativity and critical thinking.”

The 2022 Barry Beyerstein Award for Excellence in Teaching is a testament to Broesch’s passion and commitment in creating a supportive learning environment – a quality greatly valued by her students.  In the words of one nominator, “Dr. Broesch has consistently shown that she cares for the well-being and success of the students she works with. I genuinely believe that my experience with her will remain a significant highlight of my time at SFU.”