The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Dean’s Medal recognizes excellence in academic research, teaching, and service. Up to three candidates are awarded the medal each year as recommended by an independent review committee to the Dean.

The recipients of the 2011 Dean’s Medals are:

Ralph Mistlberger, Department of Psychology (above far right)
In nominating Professor Mistlberger, his Psychology colleagues said he "has excelled at all aspects of his discipline, from his extraordinary dedication to and success in scholarly activity on the topics of chronobiology (the relationship between circadian clocks and animal biology) and sleep, to the teaching of students, and to his service to the community and profession." Professor Mistlberger is a popular supervisor, and one large course he teaches regularly provides some of the most positive teaching evaluations in Psychology. His research is also exemplary, with his work cited in scientific papers and proceedings at a rate of some 300 citations annually.
Learn more about Ralph Mistlberger.

Krishna Pendakur, Department of Economics (above, second from right)
Professor Krishna Pendakur's nomination from the Economics Department described him as "working with the best economists in the world in his fields" on topics that "range from the most applied to the most theoretical". Professor Pendakur makes significant contributions to important policy debates in Canadian topics including poverty, homelessness, cost of living,immigration and integration. In addition, he is a senior supervisor for PhDs, and teaches a large first year undergraduate economics course. Professor Pendakur is also Co-Director of Metropolis BC, an interdisciplinary policy research center which connects academic researchers with policy-interested people in both government and NGO communities.
Lean more about Krishna Pendakur.

Mary Lynn Stewart, Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies (above, left)
Professor Mary Lynn Stewart was nominated by her colleagues in the Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies, who describe her as a "champion of interdisciplinarity". As one of Canada's leading European feminist historians and a prize-winning author, Professor Stewart has written numerous books on topics such as female journalists in France between the two World Wars and the business and marketing of fashion in France in the early 20th Century. A pioneer of women's studies, Professor Stewart is a Fellow of the Royal Society, past-President of the Canadian History Association, and she received SFU's 2007 Excellence in Teaching Award.
Learn more about Mary Lynn Stewart.