On April 7, 2026, over 100 students, faculty, staff, and university leaders gathered in the Ponderosa Ballroom to celebrate the Faculty Wellbeing Champions Recognition Event, the first of its kind on UBC Vancouver campus. This initiative highlighted the important role faculty play in supporting student wellbeing within teaching and learning environments.
A Celebration of Community Care and Recognition
This event was designed as a celebration where all 124 faculty nominated by students were recognized as “Faculty Wellbeing Champions.” The student nominations were aligned with the main themes of the Wellbeing in the Classroom Toolkit, a community-driven, evidence-informed tool that summarizes key strategies that instructors have and may use to promote student wellbeing in the classroom. By acknowledging all nominees, the event highlighted the many ways faculty contribute to student wellbeing, often through small, everyday actions that leave lasting impacts.
Why Wellbeing in Learning Environments Matters
Leaders, faculty, and student-speakers throughout the event emphasized that student wellbeing and academic success are deeply connected. When students feel supported, they are more likely to feel a sense of belonging, engage more actively, and navigate challenges more effectively.
Equally important is the wellbeing of faculty. Supportive teaching and learning environments depend on instructors being valued and able to bring their full selves to their work. This interconnectedness between student and faculty wellbeing was a key element of the event and shows how creating healthy, wellbeing-focused teaching and learning environments helps our entire community thrive.
Centering Student Voices Through Stories
At the heart of the event was its student-driven approach. With 190 nominations across 13 faculties, the event was especially meaningful as it reflects what students themselves value in their learning experiences.
Student speakers shared personal stories of faculty impact, highlighting moments of empathy, flexibility, and inclusive teaching that have shaped their student experience at UBC. These stories brought this recognition to life, showing how care and intentionality in the classroom can shape not only academic outcomes, but also students’ sense of belonging and wellbeing.
Faculty echoed these reflections, emphasizing intentionality in their teaching and the importance of designing learning environments where students can thrive. Through their remarks, faculty shared the meaningful impact that this recognition has on their journey as academic leaders at UBC.
As a student and staff member involved in leading this initiative, being able to celebrate the efforts and dedications of the faculty members that left lasting positive impacts on my learning experience during my undergraduate and graduate degrees at UBC was truly an honour. They have shaped the way I think and approach my academic, professional and personal life and I am truly privileged to have these role models to look up to and learn from. – Sahar Allen, UBC student and Wellbeing in Learning Environments Project Coordinator with the Office of Wellbeing Strategy
By centering student voices and celebrating faculty impact, this inaugural event highlights the importance of nurturing teaching and learning environments where both students and instructors can thrive. We look forward to continuing to share and celebrate stories from across the UBC community.
Congratulations to the 2026 cohort of Faculty Wellbeing Champions!