Know Your Professor With Zhyryn!

Welcome back to Know Your Professor With Zhyryn, a weekly feature of The Cadre that introduces readers to the people behind their classes. Each week, we spotlight a professor from across campus to explore their academic journeys, teaching philosophies, and lives beyond the classroom.

This week’s feature highlights the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine’s Professor Kathryn Proudfoot—known to many as Professor Katy—Director of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre and a professor specializing in animal welfare and behaviour. With a background that spans neuroscience, animal science, and applied animal biology, she brings a deeply interdisciplinary perspective to her teaching and research.

Originally from California, Professor Katy completed her undergraduate degree in psychobiology and neuroscience at the University of California, Los Angeles, then earned both her MSc and PhD at the University of British Columbia. Her passion for research emerged early. “I’d always been a really curious person and loved the idea of spending my life asking questions,” she said. During her PhD, she realized that teaching and research were the parts of academia she valued most, which ultimately led her to pursue a career as a professor. In the classroom, Professor Katy emphasizes collaboration and curiosity. Rather than relying solely on lectures, she prioritizes engagement and discussion: “Finding out what the students’ perspective on a particular topic is and making it more of a two-way engagement rather than me just talking to them.” Her courses often include elements of a flipped classroom, using class time for conversation, problem-solving, and critical thinking rather than passive note-taking.

She also designs assignments to encourage independent thought. Instead of focusing on memorization, she challenges students to explore research questions that genuinely interest them. “You don’t really remember something unless you want to remember it,” she said. By helping students discover what they find meaningful, she hopes learning becomes both memorable and motivating.

For first-year learners beginning their university journey, Professor Katy offers simple but powerful advice: talk to your professors. As a self-described introvert, she understands how intimidating that can feel. “I never did that as an undergrad,” she admitted, but emphasized that building connections with professors can shape a student’s academic experience in meaningful ways. “We’re humans too,” she added, noting that instructors appreciate curiosity and feedback just as much as learners appreciate support.

Outside the classroom, Professor Katy believes strongly in maintaining hobbies to manage stress and stay balanced. She encourages students to find activities that allow them to fully disconnect from academic pressures. For her, that means painting and dancing—creative outlets that help her de-stress and end the day with something enjoyable. She often reminds students that having hobbies is not a luxury but an essential part of long-term well-being.

Getting to know professors like Professor Katy reminds us that behind every lecture is a person driven by curiosity, care, and a genuine desire to support learning. Check back next week for another edition of Know Your Professor With Zhyryn, where we continue building connections across campus.