CONESTOGA COLLEGE
Awards for outstanding leadership recognize two Conestoga administrators

Two Conestoga administrators have been honoured with an award from the Ontario College Administrators Network (OCASA) for their outstanding leadership: Adam Davies, a chair in the School of Trades & Apprenticeship, and Keith Müller, executive dean of both the School of Hospitality & Culinary Arts and the Institute of Food Processing Technology.

At the 2024 awards ceremony held on January 29, Davies received the Emerging Leader Award and Müller was presented with the Doug Light Career Achievement Award.

Also nominated in the Distinguished Leader category was Jim Edwards, dean of the School of Applied Computer Science & Information Technology, and Laura Stoutenburg, director of Faculty Development.

Conestoga's Adam Davies and Keith Müller were recognized for their leadership with an an award from the Ontario College Administrators Network (OCASA)

Dean Bulloch, senior vice-president, congratulated all four administrators on this outstanding recognition. "It's always an honour for Conestoga College to be recognized for its excellence and innovation."

The Emerging Leader Award recognizes administrators who are newer to management (about five years or less) and positively influencing the college through their leadership.

Davies feels very honoured by the nomination, while adding that all the dedicated people around him make it possible to be a good leader.

"Working in the School of Trades & Apprenticeship, I'm surrounded by a group of supportive and collaborative people that care about what they do. That teamwork and support make it possible to be effective and successful, and a big thank you is owed to the entire group."

The Doug Light Career Achievement Award pays tribute to an administrator who has significantly influenced college education throughout their career. The recipient has helped to shape colleges on a regional, provincial or national level.

Müller was overwhelmed by the award and thanked the many people who supported him over the years.

"To be recognized with this career achievement award is a profound honour, and I am not sure I can fully express what it means to me. For me, this is not just the culmination of years of hard work, but the reflection of the incredible people who have supported and believed in me along the way. There are so many who have helped shape my journey as mentors, collaborators, friends and family. Each has played an irreplaceable role in my story," Müller said.

"As I reflect on this incredible journey, I'm filled with a deep sense of gratitude for the privilege of doing what I truly love. In education I have had the opportunity to be part of something larger than myself, to contribute to the education of the leaders of the future."

Bulloch thanked Müller and Davies for their contributions to the success of Conestoga.

"Keith has created an extraordinary culinary program that has included many ground-breaking experiences for our students. Keith fostered international collaboration and partnerships and was an exclusive member of the Institut Lyfe Worldwide Culinary School Alliance. He researched and implemented greenhouse gas emissions icon on the college restaurant menus and established the Conestoga Food Research and Innovation Lab," Bulloch said.

"Adam is a shining example of an emerging leader within our trades programs. One bright star for Adam resulted when he created a safe and hands-on program for partially blind students through partnering with current carpentry students. This is life-changing for many."