Every year, York University honours and celebrates the achievements of our dedicated staff. After weeks of deliberation by selection committees, York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri is pleased to recognize the recipients of the 2012 President’s Staff Recognition Awards.
“Every year I look forward to the President’s Staff Recognition Awards,” says Shoukri. “These awards provide a way to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of our staff. Those whose contributions have helped to make York one of Canada’s leading universities.”
The winners will be honoured, and their achievements celebrated, at an awards dinner scheduled for April 30.
The awards, recipients and nominees are as follows:
The Ronald Kent Medal
Margaret (Margo) Barreto, administrative assistant, School of Public Policy and Administration, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
President Emeritus H. Ian Macdonald established this award in 1979 in memory of his driver, Ronald Kent, to acknowledge his commitment to the University throughout his years of service. Mr. Kent was an enthusiastic employee and a true ambassador for York.
Also nominated for the award were: Henry Leung, custodian, Custodial Unit, CSBO; Maria Pestrin, undergraduate program assistant, School of Kinesiology & Health Science; Karen Evans, academic resource analyst, Office of the Dean, Faculty of Health; Lindsay Gonder, graduate program assistant, School of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, Faculty of Graduate Studies; Maria Mazzurco, technician – Biol. Prep Room, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science & Engineering; Jenny Pitt-Clark, communications coordinator, Strategic Communications; and Paola Panaro, administrative assistant, Department of Earth & Space Science & Engineering, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
The President’s Leadership Award (formerly CPM Award)
Alison Collins-Mrakas, senior manager & policy advisor, Office of Research Ethics
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.
Also nominated for the award were: Carol Altilia, executive officer, Office of the Dean, Faculty of Fine Arts; Pamela Edgecombe, director, Learning and Research Infrastructure, Lassonde School of Engineering; Robin Edmison, associate director, Marketing & Creative Services; Timothy Haagsma, manager, Grounds, Fleet & Waste Management, Campus Services & Business Operations; Linda Hansen, manager, Circulation Services, Scott Library; Timothy Hudson, communications manager, Office of the Dean, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies; Suzanne J. Killick, director, Learning and Organizational Development, Human Resources; John Ljubicic, zone supervisor 3, Maintenance, Campus Services & Business Operations; Douglas Reid, director, Learning and Research Infrastructure, Lassonde School of Engineering; Robert Bishop, director, Strategic Initiatives, Office of the Dean, Faculty of Health; David Michael Smith, director, Management Information, Office of Institutional Research & Analysis; Sandra Vite, manager, Gift Processing, Advancement Services; Darren Craig, manager, Parking Operations and Technology Systems, Campus Services & Business Operations; and Angela Zeno, manager, Research Accounting, Finance.
The President’s Voice of York Award
Carolyn Cannon, critical incidents coordinator/dispute advisor, Office of Student Conflict Resolution
The Voice of York Award is given to an individual employed as a receptionist or who is a first-line-of-contact person at York University. The most important voice of York is the one that callers or visitors hear first. Tact and professionalism, particularly in handling difficult or sensitive situations, is essential to our work at York University.
Also nominated for the award were: Mary Bettio, administrative secretary, Office of Research & Professional Development, Faculty of Education; Kate Duncan, recruitment office on-campus, Recruitment; Patricia Di Benigno, undergraduate program assistant, Department of History, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies; Alla Jacobson, administrative secretary, Office of Research and Professional Development, Faculty of Education; and Kelly Glaze, coordinator, Administrative Support Services, Office of the Counsel.
The Phyllis Clark Campus Service Award
Joseph Campbell, groundskeeper, Grounds, Fleet & Waste Management, Campus Services & Business Operations
This award was established in honour of Phyllis Clark, former vice-president finance and administration. The 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.
Also nominated for the award were: Greg Berghofer, merchandise buyer, Bookstore; Johnny Caruso, team leader, Custodial Services, Campus Services & Business Operations; and April Nietzschmann, campus relations official, Security Services, Campus Services & Business Operations.
The Deborah Hobson York Citizenship Award
Beth Alaksa, coordinator, International Mobility Programs, York International
The long career of former vice-president enrolment and student services Deborah Hobson is characterized by her energetic commitment and boundless enthusiasm for York University and its particular vision of higher education. This award has been established in her honour.
Also nominated for the award were: Nythalah Baker, senior advisor, Education & Communications, Centre for Human Rights; Rose Ciddio, student relations advisor, Office of the Dean, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies; Ann Cooper, administrative assistant, School of Social Work, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies; Jair Kallidumbil, student relations assistant, Centre for Student Community & Leadership Development; Sherry Ruth Lewkowicz, associate registrar, Academic Scheduling, Systems, Communications and Academic Scheduling; Vita Lobo, administrative assistant, School of Administrative Studies, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies; Brian R. Poser, director, Atkinson Centre for Mature and Part-time Students; and Aaron Doupe, manager, Student Affairs, Office of Student Services.
For more information on each of the awards and past recipients, visit the President’s Staff Recognition Awards website.