We are pleased to share that this year’s recipients of the UBC Okanagan 2025/2026 Outstanding Instructor award are Dr. Stephen Berg and Anita Veal.
The Outstanding Instructor Award recognizes exemplary instructors within each Faculty for their teaching over the past three years, with emphasis on the most recent academic year, based on an assessment of their teaching conducted by the Faculty in which they are appointed.
Read the full list on the Office of the Provost and Vice-President’s news page.
Dr. Stephen Berg, Associate Professor
Dr. Stephen Berg is a leader in online course design and teaching whose thoughtful, accessible approach has had a clear impact on student learning, particularly in the field of early childhood education. His courses are intentionally designed to support independent learning and engagement while remaining closely connected to real-world educational contexts.
Throughout his career, Dr. Berg has received consistently strong student evaluations of teaching effectiveness and has been recognized through multiple Teaching Honour Roll Awards at UBC Okanagan. Student feedback highlights that course content is immediately applicable to teaching practice, particularly in areas such as inclusive pedagogy, non-biased instruction, and supporting multicultural school communities. Dr. Berg’s teaching reflects a strong commitment to student voice. His approach to assessment is described as personalized and fair, contributing to a supportive learning environment that encourages creativity, reflection, and professional growth.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Berg’s work in program and resource development has reached more than 5,000 educators nationally and internationally, demonstrating the broader impact of his educational leadership.
Anita Veal, Sessional Lecturer
Anita Veal is an experienced sessional lecturer in the Okanagan School of Education whose teaching reflects strong curricular knowledge and a clear commitment to student learning. Since 2020, she has taught credit-bearing first year English for Academic Purposes 103 and 104 (Reading and Writing) courses, playing a key role in strengthening both the reading and vocabulary components and the writing and grammar components of the English Foundation Program (EFP) curriculum.
Anita’s lessons are skillfully planned and purpose-driven. The learning objectives are clearly articulated and consistently reflected in her lessons, and she keeps classes focused while remaining responsive to student needs. She regularly checks for understanding, asks meaningful questions, and takes the time to clarify challenging concepts. Student feedback describes her courses as academically engaging, supportive for international students, and characterized by clear explanations and an approachable teaching style.
Beyond the classroom, Anita was central to the development and initial implementation of the EFP co-curricular Chat Cafés, enhancing opportunities for authentic language practice and community building.