Congratulations to Dr. María Carbonetti for receiving the 2019 Killam Teaching Prize, which is awarded annually to faculty members nominated by students, colleagues and alumni in recognition of teaching excellence.
During her 18 years of teaching at UBC, Dr. Carbonetti’s exemplary teaching skills and dedication have been recognized by undergraduate students, teaching assistants, and many colleagues who have witnessed first-hand the tremendous impact that she has made in the classroom and beyond.
Amongst Dr. Carbonetti’s many accomplishments at FHIS, perhaps the most noteworthy is Spanish for Community (SFC), an Experiential and Service Learning initiative she began in 2010.
Considered one of the most meaningful learning experiences by many students, SFC gives participants the chance to strengthen their linguistic skills and cultural knowledge by engaging with members of the Hispanic community, locally and abroad, through projects related to social justice, diversity and inclusion, human and earth rights, public health and education, and community-based art and culture.
The projects are run in collaboration with Canadian organizations engaged with community organizations in Spanish-speaking countries. Dr. Carbonetti has entered into several partnerships with local institutions (South Granville Seniors Centre, BC Women’s Hospital, REACH Multicultural Health Centre, Little Mountain Neighbourhood House, Mosqoy.org, Migrant Workers Dignity Association), as well as with international organizations from countries such as Peru, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and Costa Rica.
“It was a pleasure collaborating with Professors Carbonetti and Beauchesne and their students. The Community Service Learning program is an amazing initiative that allows students to apply their newly learned skills to assist vulnerable members of the community. I express a sincere thank-you to UBC for this innovative and generous initiative.” – Loren Balisky, Executive Director of Kinbrace Refugee Housing and Support
There could not be a better way for the Faculty of Arts to acknowledge the importance that experiential and service-learning courses can have for our students than to award Dr. María Carbonetti a Killam Teaching Prize. Not only has she established herself as one of our most inspiring teachers, but she also represents a model of what an impactful and socially-engaged learning experience can mean for students at UBC.
