The annual President's Staff Recognition Awards are an opportunity for community members to join President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton in celebrating the efforts of staff who have demonstrated extraordinary effort in contributing to the success of York University.
Rhonda Lenton
"Each year, I have the privilege of recognizing staff members who have gone above and beyond to support the success and well-being of the York community and advance the University's vision, mission and values," said Lenton. "Despite the challenges that need to be navigated in response to the changing landscape of the pandemic, staff across our campuses have been resolute in their determination to provide a welcoming, inclusive and engaging teaching, learning and working experience for everyone.
"I am honoured to recognize those who have exemplified excellence, ingenuity and a commitment to driving positive change in all they do to elevate the quality of the York University experience. Each of the nominees and winners of this year's Staff Recognition Awards has put heart and soul into efforts to support York's ability to offer a broad sociodemographic of students with access to a high-quality education at a research-intensive University committed to enhancing the well-being of the communities we serve.
"I am indebted to them, and I invite you to join me in acknowledging and thanking them. Kudos to all of you!"
The winners of this year's Staff Recognition Awards will be honoured at an event at a later date.
This year's recipients and nominees are:
Gary Brewer Award
This award is presented annually to a non-academic employee of York University who has shown tremendous promise for assuming a leadership role at the University, is known for their innovative and meaningful contributions to the effectiveness of their unit and has significantly contributed to the University's commitment to excellence. The award recognizes and encourages early-career professionals who have demonstrated significant promise of leadership in their career.
David Kwok (top row, centre), his nominators and Lynsey Kissane, interim chief of staff, Office of the President
Winner: David Kwok, associate director, entrepreneurship
The other staff members nominated for this award are:
- Jessica Thyriar, training and education specialist
- Melissa Falotico, program and administrative assistant
- Judy Peters, administrative coordinator
- Lindsay LaMorre, associate director, experiential education
- Jonathan Schneider, senior institutional analyst
- Kathryn M. Doyle, associate director, faculty curriculum
Deborah Hobson York Citizenship Award
This award recognizes employees who have demonstrated a high level of service to students and who promote York's spirit in terms of creativity, innovation and redefining the possible in service to the University community.
Mavis Griffin (bottom row, centre), her nominators and Lynsey Kissane, interim chief of staff, Office of the President
Winner: Mavis Griffin, undergraduate program assistant, Department of Equity Studies
The other staff members nominated for this award are:
- Jeniffer Hosein, records and scheduling analyst
- Alexandra Kloczko, executive assistant
- Savitri Ramjattan, administrative coordinator
- Savinder Saraf, administrative coordinator
- Kunjan Rupakheti, geotechnical lab technician
Phyllis Clark Campus Service Award
This award is presented annually to a non-academic employee of York University who has made exemplary contributions to the operations of either of York's campuses in terms of efficiency, cleanliness, safety, security and/or other campus or plant services.
Graham Bell (centre) celebrating his news with a few of his coworkers, supervisors and managers
Winner: Graham Bell, custodian - day shift team leader, Keele Campus
The other staff members nominated for this award are:
- Marcos Vinas, custodian
- Paulina Karwowska-Desaulniers, director, research priorities and partnerships
President's Voice of York Award
The Voice of York Award is given to an individual who is a first line-of-contact person at York University. The most important voice of York is the one who makes the first contact with a visitor or a community member. Compassion and professionalism, particularly in handling difficult or sensitive situations, is essential to our work at York University.
Winner: Judith Hawley, graduate program assistant, Social & Political Thought Program (no image available)
The other staff members nominated for this award are:
- Emma Yuen, senior human resources officer
- Ives Polking, administrative assistant, research
- Bettina Palmieri, service representative, registrarial services
- Zeripha Moses, academic advisor
The President's Leadership Award
The President's Leadership Award recognizes contributions that go beyond the published requirements of a position and performance levels that foster a high level of professionalism and usually extend beyond an individual department into the University community at large.
Joanie Cameron Pritchett, (second row, far right), her nominators and Lynsey Kissane, interim chief of staff, Office of the President
Winner: Joanie Cameron Pritchett, director, Centre for Sexual Violence Response, Support & Education
The other staff members nominated for this award are:
- Josephine Fung, manager, student services
- Karthiga Gowrishanger, program director, teaching & learning strategic initiatives
- Anya Morea, manager, talent and engagement
- Brenda Fernandes, financial officer
Harriet Lewis Team Award for Service Excellence
This award recognizes a team's excellence in service and support to students, faculty, course directors, staff and/or other service users and its promotion of the York spirit in terms of imagination, creativity, innovation and redefining the possible in service to York's community (internal or external).
The Teaching Commons team, their nominators and Lynsey Kissane, interim chief of staff, Office of the President
Winner: The Teaching Commons
- Geneviève Maheux-Pelletier, director
- Lisa Endersby, educational developer
- Mandy Frake-Mistak, educational developer
- Yelin Su, educational developer
- Brian Nairn, educational developer
- Robin Sutherland-Harris, educational developer
- Robert Winkler, instructional designer
- Mary Lynn Belmonte, administrative assistant
- Natasha May, educational developer
- Ameera Ali, educational developer, equity, diversity and inclusion
- Katharina Pabst, educational developer
The other teams nominated for this award are:
- Strategic and Institutional Research Initiatives
- Electrical Engineering & Computer Science Academic
- Academic Scheduling
- York University Libraries COVID-19 Planning Team
- YU Learn Project Team
- The Quarantine Team
- Communications & Marketing Department, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
- The Emergency Operation Centre and COVID Planning and Response Groups
- Bell Let's Talk YU Team
Ronald Kent Medal
The medal recognizes the contributions of employees who promote and strengthen collegiality, values and goals of York University.
Winner: Fiona Fernandes, graduate program assistant, Interdisciplinary Studies Program
The other staff members nominated for this award are:
- Sandra McLean, senior media relations officer
- Meaghan McCue, administrative assistant
- Carolyn Sebastian, administrative coordinator
- Olga Girina, undergraduate technician
This story was originally featured in YFile, York University's community newsletter.
