Laurentian University Professor Dr. Jacqueline Litzgus Honoured with Francis R. Cook Mentorship Award

October 2, 2026– Dr. Jacqueline Litzgus, Full Professor of Biology and Director of the Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit at Laurentian University, has been awarded the prestigious Francis R. Cook Mentorship Award at the Canadian Herpetological Society (CHS) Annual Conference.

The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to encouraging, supporting, and guiding the next generation of herpetologists in Canada. Dr. Litzgus, a Jane Goodall Research Fellow in Conservation Biology, leads a research team dedicated to studying and protecting amphibians and reptiles, among the most imperilled animals on the planet.

“Mentoring students is without a doubt my most favourite part of being a professor, so this award is especially meaningful,” said Dr. Litzgus. “The award recognizes that the Litzgus Lab has produced a lot of great biologists, so now I can retire knowing that Canada’s amphibians and reptiles are in very good hands.”

Central to Dr. Litzgus’ teaching philosophy is building a collaborative team. In her lab, trainees work together in the field to collect data, as well as back on campus to hone their science communication, statistical analysis, and writing skills. This balance of hands-on instruction and facilitated independent learning has led to an outstanding track record of student publications and presentation awards.

The impact of her mentorship was on full display at this year’s conference. When receiving the award, Dr. Litzgus looked out at a room that included nearly 20 current and former students. In a testament to her legacy, the conference organizers were three of her former graduate students, now tenure-track professors themselves, and both the President and Past-President of the CHS are alumni of her lab.

“This full circle experience, when a mentee becomes a mentor, is especially rewarding,” noted Dr. Litzgus. “To instill the compassion and empathy needed for conservation work, you have to get outside and fall in love with the animals and their wild spaces, you have to be immersed in it, bugs and all. This is not work that can be done behind a desk.”

Through her dedicated mentorship, Dr. Litzgus continues to shape the future of field biology and species-at-risk conservation across Canada.