top of page
Laura_Williams_Web_Profile_Picture_Square.jpg

Laura Williams, PhD

Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream

I attained my PhD in Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo with a focus on the relationship between brain and behaviour. I took initiative to build a knowledge base in pedagogical practices while pursuing academic excellence in the discipline of kinesiology as my motivation for pursuing my PhD was to position myself to teach as a subject matter expert in the field while also being able to contribute to the design and development of teaching and learning within higher education. My focus within tertiary education is to be a leading force in developing and implementing undergraduate and graduate instruction and to contribute to pedagogical development. 

Current Position

Currently I am an Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream within the Dean's Office in the Faculty of Health at the University of Waterloo.

​

This position is a 2-year appointment (Sept 1, 2023 - August 31, 2025) to support a university-wide initiative led by the Faculty of Health designed for graduate students (Masters and PhD) to access interdisciplinary courses on Indigenous topics and receive academic recognition for completed courses. This program will be accessible to graduate students from all six Faculties at the University of Waterloo.

 

This appointment also encompasses teaching Health 100: Foundations of a Healthy Lifestyle and Health 105: Mental Health Literacy, and potentially other courses. Over the course of the 2023-2024 academic year, I will also be working with the Centre for Extended Learning to prepare Health 100 for online course delivery starting Winter 2025.

  • Faculty of Health Teaching Award

    • Nominated​, Academic Year of 2022

  • Applied Health Sciences Teaching Assistant Award

    • Recipient​, May 2018

Awards

Contact

Teaching Certificates

Facilitator Development Workshop (FDW)

  • December, 2022

  • Prepares participants for facilitation and delivery of ISW programming

  • Engagement in three roles: learner, instructor (teacher) & facilitator

  • Offered in-person over 5 days for a 40-hour time commitment

​

Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW)

  • October, 2022

  • Peer-based workshop for participants to gain practical skills related to instructional facilitation and learning assessment

  • Requires the design and delivery of three 10 min lessons which receive verbal and written feedback from facilitators and peers

  • Offered in-person over 3 days for a 24-hour time commitment

​

Online Instructional Skills Workshop (OISW)

  • October - November, 2021

  • Same goal-set as the above ISW

  • Requires the design and delivery of three 20 min lessons

  • Offered in an online manner with both synchronous & asynchronous sessions for a 30-hour time commitment over a 5-week period

​

Certificate in University Teaching

  • September 2014 - August 2016

  • PhD student program to develop self-awareness and critically reflective teaching skills

  • Comprised of 3 courses:

    • Preparing for University Teaching (requires 4 workshops & 4 response papers)

    • Preparing for an Academic Career (research project & teaching dossier)

    • Teaching Practicum (requires 2 teaching observations)

​

Fundamentals of University Teaching

  • January - June 2014

  • Graduate Student program aimed to develop knowledge & skills for university teaching

  • Comprised of 6 workshops & 3 micro-teaching sessions

​

bottom of page