A Glenara gathering of extraordinary educators

Glenara set the stage as the University of Cape Town (UCT) honoured four exceptional educators as the 2024 Distinguished Teacher Award recipients, an annual celebration of student-centred teaching excellence. Hosted at the vice-chancellor’s (VC) official residence, the ceremony highlighted the profound impact these teachers have across disciplines.

Professor Mosa Moshabela, UCT’s VC, opened the evening by welcoming guests and affirming the central role of teaching in the university’s mission. Reflecting on the diversity of this year’s awardees – a mathematician, a doctor, a lawyer and an education scholar – he noted the shared values of humanity, creativity and intellectual rigour that bind them.

“Teaching is central to everything we do,” Professor Moshabela said. “We are celebrating your achievements, your creativity and your hard work. But we are also celebrating the spirit of humanity that you bring into the classroom and into the university.”
 

“We are also celebrating the spirit of humanity that you bring into the classroom.”

Hosted by Professor Brandon Collier-Reed, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, the event celebrated the immersive, student-centred environments the awardees cultivate, and the inspiration they provide to the broader academic community.

Top teachers

The 2024 Distinguished Teachers are:

• Dr Juana Sánchez-Ortega: Department of Mathematics & Applied Mathematics
• Dr Siobhán (“Shiv”) Gordon: Obstetrics & Gynaecology
• Associate Professor Jameelah Omar: Department of Public Law
• Dr Kate Angier: School of Education.

Congratulating the awardees, Professor Collier-Reed reflected on the distinctive quality of their portfolios, and the transformative learning spaces they create.

“Their students come to their classes because there’s a reason for them to come. What they do is special; it’s transformative,” he said.

He welcomed the four into the distinguished teachers community, describing them as educators who “represent everything that we believe is important about what happens in teaching and learning”.

Dr Juana Sánchez-Ortega: Rebuilding trust in mathematics

Teaching highly abstract algebra, often a source of anxiety for students, Dr Sánchez-Ortega spoke of her commitment restoring learners’ confidence by grounding her teaching in vulnerability and authenticity.

Her pedagogy foregrounds community, transparency and helping students embrace frustration as a productive part of mathematical thinking.
 

“Learning cannot happen if your nervous system is stuck in a fight-or-flight response.”

“Learning cannot happen if your nervous system is stuck in a fight-or-flight response,” she said. “It is necessary to create a safe environment where mistakes have no negative connotation.

“If I show my students that I make mistakes, it brings us closer. Frustration is key in solving a maths problem; learn to pause, take a walk, then come back.”

Dr Siobhán Gordon: Teaching medicine with humanity and justice

For Dr Gordon, medical education must prepare students for the complex social realities they will encounter in practice. She has pioneered curriculum innovations on gender-based violence, reproductive rights, and sexual and gender minority health, placing dignity and justice at the core of professional formation.

“It is an incredible feeling to be standing here amongst such incredible company,” she said. “This was my second attempt, so it’s extra sweet.”

She added: “For me, teaching is about reorienting medical education to what it means to be professional in a modern, complex world.”

Associate Professor Jameelah Omar: Rethinking legal education

Teaching subjects steeped in trauma and violence, Associate Professor Omar reflected on the challenge and necessity of keeping humanity at the centre of legal training.

She shared the emotional weight of receiving recognition in a discipline where the craft of teaching is often undervalued.
 

“This award recognises the work to put the person at the centre of legal education.”

“It’s really hard to teach law putting the person at the centre, but for too long we’ve focused on rationality and logic without thinking about how the law serves people,” she said.

“Teaching is at the core of what we do, but it doesn’t always feel that way. So this is very meaningful. This award recognises the work to put the person at the centre of legal education.”

Dr Kate Angier: Transforming history education across sectors

Dr Angier’s work bridges universities, schools, communities and national education structures. Her teaching blends rigorous historical inquiry with creative, embodied and dialogic approaches, a reflection of how inseparable research and teaching truly are.

Surprised at being asked to speak, she said: “It really is an enormous honour. I’m delighted to accept a prize for teaching because it is at the centre of what we do.

“All my teaching is research-informed, and research informs my teaching. We can’t have one without the other. It’s not either-or.”

Humility and grace

Closing the formalities, Moshabela returned to the theme of humanity. He highlighted the vulnerability, grace, humility and compassion that distinguish this year’s awardees as educators.

“These values stand out so powerfully,” he said. “Thank you for the people that you are, and the assets you are to this institution.”

UCT honoured four outstanding educators at the 2024 Distinguished Teacher Awards, celebrating their transformative approaches to teaching and student success.

The event concluded with thanks to the academic planning teams who administer the DTA process, and ensure the rigorous recognition of teaching excellence.

“There are people who think these things through and plan them … thank you for making it all possible.”

The 2024 Distinguished Teachers exemplify UCT’s commitment to student-centred, socially responsive and intellectually courageous teaching.

As Collier-Reed put it: “They have contributed so much to what it means to be a teacher at the UCT.”