Bernardo Menezes receives The Class of 1985 Fellowship for Creative Teaching

The committee for this year's University-wide Graduate Teaching Awards recently announced that the School of Architecture's Bernardo de Magalhães e Menezes was selected to receive The Class of 1985 Fellowship for Creative Teaching. 

This award, which includes a $5000 prize supported by the UVA Alumni Association, is among the highest honors that a graduate student can earn in recognition of their dedication to teaching at UVA. Menezes is the first from the School of Architecture with this notable award. 

Menezes, a PhD in the Constructed Environment candidate, will be honored at a reception for Public Service and Teaching Awards on April 30th. His nomination was support by faculty advisor, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture Michael Lee and Director of the PhD Program and Professor Shiqiao Li. 

Acknowledged for carrying out his teaching responsibilities with a "positive and supportive spirit," Lee described Menezes as someone who "brings [a] high level of intellectual creativity to his teaching...what distinguishes him from many others is that he also has the gift of conveying this sophisticated understanding in a way that students find accessible and engaging. His presentation style is articulate and animated, and he is always finding inventive ways to bring the material alive."

Lee shared an example of this by recounting a lecture that Menezes gave on the the gardens and landscapes of Al-Andalus. When teaching about the courtyard of the Great Mosque in Cordoba, which is filled with orange trees that perfume the exterior space and are irrigated by water channels, Menezes paired images and visuals with olafactory and auditory experiences. Students, sitting in a classroom on Grounds in Charlottesville, were transported via their senses many miles away — through the fragrance of freshly cut oranges and the recorded sounds of a garden fountain.  Lee described the unconventional teaching approach as characteristic of how Menezes looks for ways to "draw the students in with something that [is] experiential, visceral, and unexpected."

Additionally, his teaching contributions and commitment to students were highlighted through excellence in constructive feedback, research methodologies, and ongoing mentorship. Menezes is also recognized for experimentation with different formats, from small group discussions to full class participation, testing and adapting to best meet the needs of the students and the content. 

Upon receipt of the award, Menezes shared, "Over the years, I had the privilege of being exposed to brilliant educators. From some, I learned how to acknowledge and act upon students’ curiosity, allowing them agency over their own learning process. From others, I learned about the scholars’ responsibilities and commitment to rigor and excellence in research. From others, I learned about breadth and how, in storytelling, one idea easily leads to the other, and the whole world fits in a classroom." 

In addition to his nomination by Professors Lee and Li, many of students of Menezes contributed letters of support, for which he is especially grateful. True to the spirit of the recognition, Menezes brings out the best in his students' potential through supportive and insightful mentorship. 

He said, "I see education as a path of mutual learning and growth, driven by the thrill of persistent inquiry and discovery. It sparks joy, elevates us, and inspires us to build a better world. I look forward to returning to the classroom, the place where I am the happiest."