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91ĹÝܽ’s School of Criminology is proud to announce that assistant professor Rylan Simpson has been honoured with the 2024 SFU Excellence in Teaching Award in the Early Career category. This award is given to Simpson in recognition of his ability to bring his research into the classroom to make course material engaging, inspiring and relevant to students, as well as for his dedication to fostering experiential and applied learning activities in his teaching.

“Teaching rests at the root of nearly everything I do. From my time in the classroom to my work with my mentees to my dissemination of knowledge within and outside of the academy,” says Simpson. “I feel incredibly honoured to receive this award in recognition of my efforts in this space.”

Since joining SFU Criminology in 2019, Simpson has impressed students and colleagues alike with his passion for teaching and his genuine care to help students discover their own passions. He excels at seamlessly integrating his research into the classroom.

“He is exceptionally passionate and engaging. His enthusiasm for the concepts he teaches is evident as soon as you sit in his lecture hall,” says Janine Namoro, former undergraduate student of Simpson’s who is now completing her master’s degree under his supervision. “Rylan has a unique ability to make even the toughest subjects feel less intimidating.”

“I am extremely impressed with Dr. Simpson’s teaching,” says SFU Criminology director and professor Martin Bouchard. “He is already a leader and inspiration to many of us for his teaching approach and success with students.”

A staple of Simpson’s classes is his initiative to invite community speakers, including police officers of all ranks and from various police agencies, into his classroom to discuss topics related to policing, such as leadership and frontline experiences. This approach to learning enables his students to connect theory with real-world applications, enhancing their educational experience.

In addition to his success in the classroom, Simpson has been recognized for his mentorship of graduate students, who speak highly of his impact on their academic journeys.

“In my time working with Dr. Simpson, he has contributed to making me a stronger researcher, better writer, and more qualified educator”, says PhD candidate Ryan Sandrin. “In fact, Dr. Simpson is the reason why I chose to pursue a PhD and, like many others, it is because of the direct impact of Dr. Simpson’s mentorship that I have discovered a true passion for research.”

Simpson is an expert in policing and utilizes advanced experimental methodologies and quantitative analyses in his research. He has amassed over 1,600 hours of ride-alongs with police agencies in several countries, including in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. His contributions to policing scholarship along with his engagement with law enforcement officials have earned him multiple accolades.

“My inspiration comes from my students. Seeing my students refine their interests, pursue their passions, and chase their dreams brings me tremendous joy,” says Simpson. “Seeing how my students apply their learning to their lived experiences further reminds me of why education, especially regarding policing, is so important in today’s society.”

Looking ahead, Simpson aims to continue developing new and exciting opportunities for experiential learning and plans to develop a blended or online version of one of his policing courses.

The SFU Awards for Excellence in Teaching recognize instructors who inspire and facilitate student learning in ways that make a sustained, substantial and positive influence on how students think, engage and act in the world.

Congratulations to Rylan Simpson on this well-deserved recognition!