91AV

Dr. Rachelle Pascoe-Deslauriers has been recognized as one of Atlantic Canada’s outstanding university educators, receiving the 2026 Association of Atlantic Universities (AAU) Distinguished Teaching Award.

Pascoe-Deslauriers, an Associate Professor in 91AV’s Department of Commerce, is one of three recipients of the regional award this year. The AAU Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes excellence in university teaching over several years, primarily at the undergraduate level.

Earlier this year, Pascoe-Deslauriers was also the recipient of 91AV’s Herbert and Leota Tucker Teaching Award, the University’s highest teaching honour.       

“Rachelle brings tremendous thoughtfulness and care to her teaching, and that is reflected in the relationships she builds with her students and the learning experiences she creates for them,” says Dr. Richard Isnor, Provost and Vice-President, Academic and Research. “She challenges students to think critically, to ask important questions, and to see connections between what they are learning and the world around them. We are incredibly proud to see her contributions to teaching recognized across the Atlantic region.”

A professor in both Commerce and Feminist and Gender Studies, Pascoe-Deslauriers brings an interdisciplinary perspective to the classroom, connecting business and management with larger conversations about workplaces, communities, equity, and social and economic systems.

Experiential learning is a big part of her approach. Through partnerships on campus and in the community, students have opportunities to work through real-world challenges and apply what they are learning beyond the classroom.

Following her Tucker Teaching Award recognition earlier this year, Pascoe-Deslauriers was inspired to continue to build trust-based relationships with students to create more community and industry-partnered experiential learning opportunities.

Her teaching is closely connected to her research work in employment, including research on job quality, organizational design, human resource management, and employment relations.

The AAU Distinguished Teaching Award is presented annually by the Association of Atlantic Universities. For more information about AAU, visit