[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/bontis_connelly-1.jpg” caption=”Nick Bontis and Catherine Connelly are the recipients of the Dr. S.J. Basu Teaching Award. File photos.”]MBA students at the DeGroote School of Business have named their favourite teachers. Catherine Connelly and Nick Bontis have been selected as the recipients of the Dr. S.J. Basu Teaching Award.

Connelly, assistant professor of human resources & management, was recognized for teaching the first-year MBA organizational behaviour course.

“One of my goals for my MBA students is for them to see their own working experiences through the lens of current management theories,” said Connelly. “These theories will enable them to question their current beliefs regarding the roles of employees, managers, and organizations in relation to each other and to society.”

Nick Bontis, who teaches the second-year knowledge management course, uses cases, lectures, videos, simulations, KM technology reviews, human capital benchmarking, guest speakers and industry best practices to give his students a glimpse of what the future of management and knowledge work will entail.

“I am very proud to have received this recognition because I am very passionate about teaching,” said Bontis. “I am especially honoured because I know that this is not an easy course. Receiving this award tells me that DeGroote MBA students are not afraid to be academically challenged and that motivates me to keep pushing the limits of my teaching performance each time I have the luxury of being in front of the classroom.”

Sanjoy Joe Basu taught accounting at the School of Business. He passed away in January 1983 at the age of 37. The Basu Teaching Award aims to foster the type of teaching excellence achieved by Dr. Basu. Friends, colleagues and accounting organizations also established the Basu Medal, which is awarded to a graduating student who has displayed outstanding achievement in accounting.