A professor emeritus in the Faculty of Business Administration is being recognized for his outstanding career with Memorial’s highest honour.
Dr. Alex Faseruk, a retired professor of finance, has been named the recipient of the 2016 John Lewis Paton Distinguished University Professorship.
MUC first president
Named for the first president of Memorial University College, the award recognizes faculty who embody the university’s mission by demonstrating exceptional teaching, undertaking world-class research and widely sharing their knowledge and expertise.
“What impressed me is the breadth of the selection criteria for the award that had internal and external adjudication from colleagues both internally and externally, former students and administrators over a long period of time,” said Dr. Faseruk, adding that the criteria for which the award is considered is reflective of individuals who embody a strong team approach.
Nominees for this award must have a strong and consistent record of research that is outstanding and recognized both nationally and internationally; exceptional teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level; training of graduate students and other highly qualified personnel; community engagement related to their disciplinary expertise including, but not limited to, contributions to national and international organizations; and a strong record of mentorship to new faculty.
“Memorial is a superb institution in which professors and students can achieve as much as they can ask or imagine.”
“One of Memorial’s greatest strengths is its ability to bring exceptionally qualified people together in a positive environment to allow people to flourish. Memorial is a superb institution in which professors and students can achieve as much as they can ask or imagine,” he said.
Established in 2013
Dr. Faseruk is the third recipient of the award, which was established in 2013. Dr. Sean Brosnan, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, and Dr. Patrick Parfrey, Faculty of Medicine, are previous recipients. The award consists of the lifetime designation Distinguished University Professor and a one-time unrestricted grant of $20,000 to support future research, teaching and public engagement activities at Memorial.
Dr. Faseruk also received the designation of professor emeritus at Memorial’s recent fall convocation ceremonies.
“The professor emeritus is recognition of a long, successful career demonstrating proficiency in at least one area, which in my case would be teaching through involvement in the enhancement and empowerment of students by continually offering quality instruction,” he said.
Pillar of excellence
Dr. Faseruk was a pillar of teaching and research excellence at the business faculty for 34 years.
A 3M Teaching Fellow, he received 24 teaching awards over the course of his career, including Professor of the Year from graduating classes, the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching from Memorial, National Post’s Leaders in Management Education, the Distinguished Teaching Award from Academy of Finance and the Beta Gamma Sigma Leadership Award.
He coached Memorial teams in national and international case, paper writing, stock market and entrepreneurial competitions that resulted in Memorial students winning more than 50 first places. In 2006 he was the inaugural recipient of the Dr. J. Pierre Brunet Coach Award at the John Molson MBA International Case Competition; in 2008 he won the Arnoldi Award for Coaching Excellence at the Intercollegiate Business Competition Championships.
Dr. Faseruk produced over 80 referred proceedings and conference papers as well as 45 journal publications. He served on the editorial boards of three journals and has been on the executive of four research organizations, including president of MBAA International. He also received 20 awards recognizing his service to the business faculty and the university, including Memorial’s Faculty Volunteer of the Year Award in 1999.
Dr. Faseruk is a graduate of Queen’s University, Dalhousie University, University of Kentucky and Queen’s College.
“Dr. Faseruk’s contributions to Memorial and in particular, the Faculty of Business Administration, have been immeasurable and it is no doubt due, at least in part, to his achievements that the faculty is highly regarded as a leader in financial management education,” said Dr. Wilfred Zerbe, dean of the business faculty. “It’s wonderful to see his excellent and wide-ranging contributions to the faculty, the university and his profession are being broadly recognized.”
The award for the John Lewis Paton Distinguished University Professorship was presented in a ceremony that also recognized the university’s distinguished teachers and research professorships on Dec. 14.
