UAlberta Law sessional instructor Ryan Clements (BA '04, LLB '07), has a resume that's equally diverse as it is impressive. With a handful of professional and academic achievements under his belt, it should be no surprise that this year's recipient of the Pringle / Royal Teaching Excellence Award has also been selected to receive a Viscount Bennett Scholarship from the Law Society of Alberta.
The funding comes at a good time, as Clements is about to embark on a new, out-of-country academic endeavour: completing his LLM from Duke University in North Carolina.
"It is my goal to become a full time professor at a Canadian law school. This scholarship, which I'm very grateful for, provides support to offset the cost of tuition and living expenses (as I have a young family who will be accompanying me). It also allows me to focus entirely on my academic career without the pressure of maintaining a practice on the side to offset expenses. As a result, it has a significant positive impact on my career goals and family's wellbeing," he said.
Clements has been a sessional instructor at UAlberta Law for three semesters, teaching students in the areas of Entrepreneurial and Corporations Law.
He said it was his experience as an instructor that set a new direction for his career. After working for various sized firms across the country, Clements decided that teaching was ultimately the best fit.
"The past two years teaching at the U of A, as well as at SAIT in Calgary, as an adjunct instructor, really solidified my desire to become a full time professor and also ignited a real passion to improve my abilities as a teacher, contribute positively to the learning experience of students, and dive deep into publishing and research projects," Clements said.
Notably, his latest trip to the U.S. isn't the first time he ventured outside of Canada for academic purposes. He also holds a certificate in negotiations from Harvard Law School.
In addition to navigating - and settling into - living in another country, Clements is also busy writing articles for publication this summer and beyond.
The articles will join a slew of other already published works, including 2014's Unsuited: How We Can Reject Conventional Career Advice And Find Empowerment, which is based on his own experience into the uncertain world of entrepreneurship. The book centres around the idea of career fulfillment, which was also the theme of his 2014 TEDxKelowna presentation.
"For me, there is nothing better than helping someone grasp a legal concept. I get a real thrill in the way that people light up when there is that moment of clarity. I love diving deep into academic problems. I can easily channel a flow state in both of these settings. I also love the collegiality of an academic environment. Most importantly, I'm driven to improving my craft, even with the costs (like going back to school at the age of 38 and having three kids!) - that is how I know I'm on the right path," he said.
After completing his LLM in North Carolina, Clements plans to pursue his SJD - ideally in the same place.
"I would love to be able to stay at Duke, after my LLM, and complete my SJD. That is at least the goal, as there are several professors there I'd love to work with."
We look forward to welcoming Clements back to the place he still considers home - Alberta - in September for the Teaching Awards Reception.