Senior Tutor, Department of Film, Television and Media Studies, The University of Auckland

"If we do not continually look for ways that build on or challenge convention and common practice we will stagnate and fail in our task as educators."

“Margaret is an unusually gifted, passionate and innovative educator” writes a colleague. She is someone who truly inspires students and teachers. Her untiring efforts are fuelled by her delight in teaching and determination to make a difference in the lives of her students. Margaret is hugely committed to equity in tertiary education and highly innovative in her approaches to achieve this. As just one example, a highly successful Bebo forum was set up in 2006 so students could access academic advisors and one another in a non-university social networking space. Margaret’s publications and research support her teaching and she is in demand nationally and internationally as a speaker.

Margaret is held in high esteem by her students; one wrote “You are a teacher of the highest quality …. You made us work our butts off but in a constructive and amicable manner which in my opinion is far more effective for a teacher than harsh criticisms.” Margaret’s commitment to excellence in teaching is best summed up in her own words. “I know that when I stop thinking as a learner, I will be rendered ineffectual as a teacher.”