Barry Grant, a professor of film studies at Brock University, is CAUT’s 2010 Distinguished Academic Award recipient for excellence in teaching practice, scholarly achievements and service work that extends beyond the campus.

Announcing the award winner, CAUT past president Greg Allain said the three-member jury unanimously chose Grant for the award.

Allain said Grant was singled out by his students and peers as an ex­ceptional teacher. “As proven by the many testimonials the jury received, Dr. Grant is known as an accomplished teacher, who has excel­led in motivating and inspiring his students,” he said. Grant’s innovative and student-centered teaching methods recently earned him a university award for teaching excellence and a top honour from the interna­­tional Society for Cinema & Media — the Pedagogy Award.

Over his 34-year career, Grant is also credited with having a “remarkable” research, scholarly and creative agenda and is “perhaps the most prolific scholar of film studies and popular culture in Canada,” according to the award jury. He has published 25 books and more than 150 book chapters, refereed articles and entries in Canadian, American and British encyclopaedias and reference works and is a sought-after speaker at events around the world. Among his various accomplishments, he is a recipient of two research recognition awards.

Throughout his professional career Grant has served his institution in a number of roles including as first chair of the fine arts department at Brock, director of the film studies program for almost a decade and at occasional periods as acting dean of humanities.

He also previously served on the executive of the Brock University Faculty Association in several capacities and during his presidency in 2005 was an integral part of the team during crucial negotiations for a new collective agreement. He has served on the editorial boards of several
film and media journals and as editor-in-chief of an international encyclopaedia on film history and theory. He also is a film series editor for Blackwell Publishers, and Wayne State and Cambridge University presses.

When he’s not in the classroom or conducting research, he might be found writing a column on film for the media, hosting an Indie film fest, or volunteering with the Elder­hostel programs in the community.

“Dr. Grant has truly manifested excellence in all three areas of academic life as evidenced continuously by his contributions and is clearly deserving of CAUT’s top distinction,” Allain said. “We are pleased to give him the Distinguished Academic Award.”

Grant was presented with the award and a $1,000 honorarium during a ceremony at CAUT’s council meeting on April 24. His award acceptance address to council delegates will be online
at CAUT’s web site later this month.

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Nominations are now being accepted for the 2011 Distinguished Academic Award.