Four faculty members were presented with Teaching & Research awards at University Canada West’s Summer 2026 Convocation.
"Our teaching and research award recipients exemplify the very best of what UCW has to offer. Each of them brings passion, dedication and intellectual curiosity to their work, and their contributions enrich the learning experience of every student they teach. We are proud to celebrate them and grateful for everything they bring to our University community," said Dr. Mazi Shirvani, Interim Vice President, Academic.
Teaching & Learning Awards
Dr. Mitra Madanchian received the Leadership in Teaching & Learning Award, honouring a body of work that has reshaped an entire program in just a few short years.
Since joining UCW in 2023, Dr. Madanchian, former Vice Chair of the Bachelor of Commerce program and Subject Lead for Change Management, Organizational Behaviour, and Human Resource Management, has led one of the most ambitious curriculum transformations in the university's recent history: the cyclical review and redesign of more than 90 Bachelor of Commerce courses.
Under her direction, the program introduced a new learning outcome dedicated to technology and artificial intelligence, wove AI and Indigenous perspectives throughout the curriculum, and expanded the program from two specializations to seven, turning the BCom into a program built for where business is headed, not where it has been.
In addition, she is the author or editor of three books on technology-enabled leadership, human resource analytics, and AI marketing.
Dr. Vaishali Sethi is the recipient of UCW’s Sustained Excellence in Teaching & Learning Award.
Dr. Sethi is an Associate Professor of Marketing in the Department of Marketing, Strategy and Entrepreneurship whose impact on students, colleagues and the broader UCW community has been both profound and enduring.
What distinguishes Dr. Sethi is her unwavering commitment to student success. Through client-based projects, simulations, experiential learning opportunities, and industry partnerships, she helps students bridge theory and practice while developing the confidence, critical thinking, and professional skills needed to thrive in today’s business environment.
Her student evaluations have consistently exceeded 90 percent, and countless students credit her mentorship with helping them secure employment, launch entrepreneurial ventures, and achieve personal and professional growth.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Sethi serves as a course lead, curriculum developer, researcher, mentor, and collaborative colleague. She has led innovations in course design, contributed to program development, supported faculty members, and advanced research in sustainable marketing and experiential learning.
Research Awards
Dr. Hamed Taherdoost is the recipient of the Sustained Research Excellence Award.
Dr. Taherdoost has developed an internationally recognized research portfolio spanning digital transformation, artificial intelligence adoption, cybersecurity governance, blockchain systems and research methodology. His work combines scholarly rigour with practical relevance, helping organizations understand and respond to emerging technologies.
Since joining University Canada West, Dr. Taherdoost has made a significant contribution to the University’s research profile, with more than 190 Scopus-indexed publications. Across his career, he has published more than 400 peer-reviewed articles, authored 16 scholarly books and earned extensive international recognition for the impact of his research.
Through his scholarship, research leadership and commitment to advancing knowledge, Professor Taherdoost has made a lasting contribution to UCW and the wider academic community.
Dr. Mohammad Osman Gani was presented with the Early Career Researcher Award in recognition of a research program that has grown at a remarkable pace since he completed his PhD at Hiroshima University in 2023.
Dr. Gani's work sits at the intersection of international marketing, consumer behaviour and supply chain management, probing a question that matters more than ever: how do people and firms make decisions when the future is uncertain?
His answers have found a home in some of the field's most influential journals, including International Business Review, Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Computers in Human Behavior, Journal of Product & Brand Management, and Tourism Review.
Across this work, he traces how cognitive bias quietly shapes global strategy, how artificial intelligence is transforming the way consumers shop and travel, and how firms build the resilience to withstand disruption.
His impact extends far beyond the journal page. Dr. Gani has authored or edited four books and thirteen book chapters.
After accepting their awards on stage, the four outstanding faculty members each gave convocation addresses to the graduating students.
