Thursday, July 8, 2021

Martha Shaffer

The University of Toronto Faculty of Law Class of 2021 selected Professor Martha Shaffer as the Mewett Teaching Award recipient, presented annually to a faculty member for excellence in teaching.

She was also chosen again this year as the class hail & farewell speaker. The send-off speech is awarded annually to a law professor, and she has held the honour of giving the remarks several times.

Widely regarded as a passionate instructor, the graduating class chose to recognize Professor Shaffer for her teaching style that has welcomed students into her classroom, made learning the law accessible through her clarity and commitment to ensuring students understood her lessons, and for the empathy she has shown students during the pandemic.

Professor Shaffer teaches criminal law, evidence law and legal methods, and has taught family law as well as courses on cultural diversity and gender issues. She writes in the areas of family and criminal law, with a focus on gender, violence against women, and on the use of social science evidence to inform legal reasoning. She holds law degrees from Harvard and U of T.

“Thank you, Class of 2021, for honouring me with the Mewett Award and with the opportunity to say a few words of hail & farewell as you leave the law Faculty,” said Professor Shaffer.

“As some of my colleagues and I often say, the best part of teaching at U of T Law is interacting with our students. You are a remarkable group of people: smart, talented, caring and engaged. It has been a privilege and an honour to have gotten to know you – in person and virtually – during your time at U of T and I hope you will stay in touch. Warmest congratulations and all the best in your next endeavours."

Republished at U of T Celebrates