Professor Elli Weisbaum Receives U of T Award of Excellence for her Transformative Impact on Student Experiences

New College congratulates Eleanor (Elli) Weisbaum, Assistant Professor (teaching stream)  at New College’s Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health, with a joint appointment in the Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine and a cross-appointment at Dalla Lana School of Public Health in their Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation for receiving the 2025 Joan E. Foley Quality of Student Experience Award.  

Each year, the University of Toronto’s Awards of Excellence recognizes the outstanding contributions of faculty, staff, librarians and students—an initiative dating back to 1921 and presented by the University of Toronto Alumni Association (UTAA). Among these prestigious awards, the Joan E. Foley Quality of Student Experience Award is given to an individual who has made a distinctive and lasting impact on the undergraduate or graduate experience. This award honours those who go beyond the expectations of their role, creating broad and enduring positive change for students at
U of T.

For Professor Elli Weisbaum, this recognition reflects a teaching philosophy rooted in care, curiosity and a commitment to student well-being. As a scholar and researcher in Contemplative Science, Professor Weisbaum integrated knowledge from across the fields of neuroscience, education, healthcare, mindfulness, Buddhist Scholarship, compassion-based practices and emotional intelligence into her teaching and research. Her aim is to cultivate learning and occupational environments where all members of the community can flourish and thrive. In addition to delivering highly rigorous curriculum, she strives to foster a sense of agency and belonging among her students—an approach that has profoundly shaped their academic journeys.

“The students in my courses at the Faculty of Arts and Science come from a wide variety of disciplines across the sciences and humanities and challenge me to broaden my own understanding of my field with their thoughtful critiques and questions,” Weisbaum reflects.

“I consider teaching them as a privilege that enhances my trans-disciplinary work and research.”

Professor Weisbaum’s impact has been deeply felt by her students, who led to this nomination. Chloe Gauthier, who spearheaded the nomination, describes her influence, “Dr. Weisbaum’s ability to weave academic rigour, student well-being, and community-building into every aspect of her work redefines what it means to be an educator at U of T. To her students, she is not just a professor but a source of genuine care and experiential wisdom. Her investment in our growth is above and beyond, and her unequivocal trust in our potential is singularly empowering. She embodies the highest ideals of the Joan E. Foley Award through her transformative contributions to the student experience.”

Fellow student Lauren Rego echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the lasting impact of her mentorship,“she has profoundly impacted my journey at U of T, fostering my confidence and supporting my success. Her compassionate approach to teaching immediately made me feel like a valued member of the university community. Rego explains that this dedication to student success creates an inclusive and supportive environment where every student feels seen and heard, “she has transformed classroom learning through experiential opportunities such as integrating BIPOC guest lectures into her courses, connecting students to leading voices in their fields.”

Professor Weisbaum’s impact has also significantly shaped the Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health (BPMH) program. Professor Frances Garrett, Director of New College’s BPMH program, highlights her contributions: “Dr. Weisbaum’s leadership has brought the BPMH program to the world stage in innovative and impactful event programming on contemplative science. She creates transformational opportunities for students, supports their professional development, and fosters a strong sense of belonging through her mentorship and outreach.”

New College Principal Bob Gazzale also praised Elli’s exceptional contributions, referencing Professor Garrett’s words, “Dr. Weisbaum’s greatest gift is the way she makes her students feel: valued, capable, and inspired to contribute meaningfully.” He added, “I can think of nobody more deserving of this award, and nobody who better embodies the New College ethos. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Elli!”

This recognition is also especially meaningful for Professor Weisbaum because it reflects the perspectives of those she works with most closely—her students, “hearing that my students had nominated me for this award was an opportunity to learn from them all the ways that they have felt supported, seen, engaged, and encouraged through our interactions within and beyond the classroom. This was already a highlight of my year. Receiving the award on top of this was a cherry on top!”

Congratulations, Professor Elli Weisbaum, on this well-deserved honour!