This year, three professors received Faculty of Health Dean’s Awards, which recognize excellence in research, teaching, and service that demonstrate curriculum and educational leadership.
“This year, the Faculty of Health is delighted to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of three faculty members whose dedication and leadership are contributing to positive change at York, and beyond, through excellence in research, pedagogical and/or curricular innovation, and service and engagement impact,” said Faculty of Health Dean David Peters. “On behalf of all faculty, staff, students and community partners, I’d like to congratulate and thank this year’s award recipients.”
Dean’s Award for Research:
Professor Shayna Rosenbaum from the Department of Psychology
The award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to research by a faculty member in the Faculty of Health, went to Rosenbaum, an acclaimed cognitive neuroscientist and clinical neuropsychologist who is a world expert on the neural basis of memory.
Her research has produced significant discoveries specifying the function of the hippocampal memory system, and vulnerability to aging and age-related disease.
Over the past three years, she has applied this knowledge to develop cognitive strategies, including ones to mitigate the effects of COVID-19, serving as principal investigator on Tri-Council-funded initiatives to optimize decision-making and learning, together with the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Rosenbaum’s research has appeared in over 125 peer-reviewed publications, with more than 10,000 citations, and she has been recognized by publications like Maclean’s as one of the “world’s neuroscience superstars.” She has previously been awarded with multiple early career awards from government organizations as well as the 2015 inaugural President’s Emerging Research Leadership Award at York, and inaugural membership in the College of the Royal Society of Canada.
Dean’s Award for Educational Leadership, Pedagogical and/or Curricular Innovation
Professor Robert Cribbie from Department of Psychology
The award, which recognizes outstanding educational leadership, pedagogical and/or curricular innovation, was given to Cribbie for his efforts to improve the educational experiences and opportunities of students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
In particular, Cribbie received the award in recognition of his leadership in the creation, development, and supervision of programs and curricula for quantitative methods within the Department of Psychology, York University more broadly and the psychology profession – specifically, the Canadian Psychological Association.
Among his efforts, since 2001, Cribbie has been a co-ordinator, associate co-ordinator and volunteer consultant for the Statistical Consulting Service (SCS) at York, which provides free statistical consulting for any student or faculty researcher at York. He also led efforts to transition to using online scheduling software that greatly improved the way consulting appointments are booked at the SCS, as well as developed a new website for SCS that makes it easier for clients and members to find pertinent information.
In addition, Cribbie led the creation of the quantitative methods area and diploma of the psychology graduate program – the largest of its kind in Canada – and developed the undergraduate Certificate in Psychological Methods and Data Analysis. He also served as the undergraduate program director/associate undergraduate program director in the Department of Psychology, and during this time he was instrumental in the development of the Department of Psychology Concentrations, which allow undergraduate students the opportunity to be formally recognized.
Dean’s Award for Excellence in Service and Engagement Impact
Professor Sean Hillier from the School of Health Policy & Management
This award recognizes the outstanding service and impact of faculty members in the Faculty of Health who have gone beyond the usual service expectations.
Over the past few years, Hillier has made a significant impact across York U campuses and beyond as an internationally recognized thought leader in Indigenous health policy and One Health.
A member of the Qalipu First Nation, at York University he serves as the director of the Centre for Indigenous Knowledges & Languages, and was appointed as the inaugural associate director of York’s Canada First Research Excellence Fund program, Connected Minds: Neural and Machine Systems for a Healthy Just Society. He has also served as Chair and then co-chair of the University’s Indigenous Council for more than five years; he co-chaired the Faculty of Health Working Group on Individual and Systematic Racism; served as the special advisor to the dean of health on Indigenous initiatives for four years; and was a member of the Faculty’s Strategic Planning Advisory Committee.
His extensive service and research work has supported Indigenous Peoples locally, nationally, and globally and resulted in widespread impact.