The President’s Staff Recognition Awards celebrate the exceptional contributions of ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ staff whose leadership, service and dedication strengthen our community and advance the University’s mission. The 2025 award recipients represent excellence across administration, academic support, research, operations and campus life, demonstrating a deep commitment to equity, innovation and student success. We are proud to recognize these individuals and teams for the meaningful impact they make every day at York and beyond.
2024 Recipients
The Deborah Hobson York Citizenship Award
Shandana Khan
Administrative Assistant, Programs and Student Services, School of Nursing
The Decolonization, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (DEDI) Award
Richolette Freckleton
Associate Director, Graduate Research, Scholarships & Awards, Faculty of Graduate Studies
The Gary Brewer Emerging Leader Award
Theresa Din
Institute Coordinator, Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research
Past Recipients
2015 – Dr. Howard Hunter: Laboratory Technologist, Department of Chemistry
2016 – Ms Carol Weldon: Administrative Assistant, ORU-Centre for Atmospheric Chemistry (CAC)
2017 – Suzette Aleung: Senior Advisor – Scheduling, Student Academic Advising Services, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
2018 – Jenny Pitt-Clark: Y-File Editor, Communications and Public Affairs
2019 – Michele Millard: Coordinator, Centre for Refugee Studies
2020 – Tammy Astrafallie: Student Success and Academic Advisor, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
2021 – Fiona Fernandes: Graduate Program Assistant, Interdisciplinary Studies
2022 – Patricia Cassan: Administrative Coordinator
2023 – Yemi Adebisi: Graduate Program Administrator, School of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies LA&PS
2024 – Magy Baket: Student Success & Academic Advisor, LA&PS
2015 – Dr. Louise Hartley: Director, ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Psychology Clinic, Department of Psychology
2016 – Ms Sarah Cantrell: Assistant Vice-President, Institutional Planning and Analysis, Office of Institutional Planning & Analysis
2017 – Sarah Howe: Director, Innovation York, Office of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation
2018 – Cameron Rogers: Director, Budgets and Planning, Division of VPFA
2019 – Tuan Nguyen: Manager, Library Information Systems
2020 – Annette Boodram: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Office of the Vice-President Equity, People & Culture
2021 – Joanie Cameron Pritchett: Director, Centre for Sexual Violence Response, Support & Education
2022 – Jodi Tavares: Executive Director, Strategy & Administration
2023 – Lindsay Hillcoat: Executive Director, Student Services & International Relations, Schulich School of Business
2024 – Sonia Pettinella: Director, Integrated Resource Planning
2015 – Ms Cristalina Del Biondo: Graduate Program Assistant, Biology Program
2016 – Ms Donna Hewison: Student Affairs Assistant, Office of the Dean
2017 – Shaila Khan: Student Transition Programs Coordinator, Student Community & Leadership Development
2018 – Patricia Gagliardi-Ursua: Executive Assistant, Division of VPFA
2019 – Madeline Salzarulo: Undergraduate Program Assistant, Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Faculty of Science
2020 – Jennifer Malisani: Undergraduate Administrative Assistant, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health
2021 – Judith Hawley: Graduate Program Assistant, Social & Political Thought
2022 – Jlenya Sarra-DeMeo: Graduate Program Administrator
2023 – Jacqueline Marie Désirée Angoh: Graduate Program Assistant, French Studies, Francophone Studies, Translation Studies, Glendon Campus
2024 – Louisa Zaffino: Executive Assistant, Facility Services
2015 – Henry Leung: Custodian, Custodial Services
2016 – Felag Belay: Custodian, Day Shift, Custodial Services
2017 – Tom Hammond: Custodian – Evenings, ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Apartments, Campus Services & Business Operations
2018 – Terry Wright: Manager, Facilities, Health & Safety & Technical Services, AMPD
2019 – Tom Hodgson: Manager, Physical Resources, Health & Safety, Research Support, Office of the Dean, Faculty of Health
2020 – Jonathan Cevallos: Facilities Manager, Faculty of Science, Office of the Dean
2021 – Graham Bell: Custodian – Day Shift Team Leader
2022 – Violet Cosby: Custodian
2023 – Nadarajah Sathianathan: Caretaker/Custodian, Facilities Services
2024 – Joe Young: Supervisor, Community Safety ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Department
2015 – Lynda Tam: Assistant Dean Students, Office of the Dean
2016 – Sheelagh Atkinson: Associate Director, University Events & Ceremonies
2017 – Randy Pitawanakwat: Coordinator, Aboriginal Student Services, Centre for Aboriginal Student Services
2018 – Maureen Barnes: Director, Student Accessibility Services, Division of Students
2019 – Yassin Handouleh: Assessor, Transfer Credit and Degree Audit, Academic and Student Financial Services, Glendon
2020 – James Robertson: Writing Centre Coordinator, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
2021 – Mavis Griffin: Undergraduate Program Assistant, Equity Studies
2022 – Rosanna Chowdhury: Experiential Education Coordinator
2023 – Rina Pugliese: Operations Manager, Career Centre
2024 – Shandana Khan: Administrative Assistant, Programs and Student Services, School of Nursing
2015 – Advancement Research and Records
- Jeff Briand, associate director research and records, Advancement
- Steve Wardle, senior advancement research analyst, Advancement
- Philipa Vaz, advancement research analyst, Advancement
- Betty Kung, research and records analyst, Advancement
- Jordan Kelyana, prospect analyst, Advancement
- Christabelle Ambrosio, prospect analyst, Advancement
2016 – Faculty of Graduate Studies, Office of the Dean
- Anesa Albert, executive assistant to the Dean & AVP Graduate
- Juan M. Arangote, financial officer
- Arun Devdas, graduate student funding liaison officer
- Christopher Douris, web & communications assistant
- Audaisha Franks, student affairs coordinator
- Richolette Freckleton, scholarship & awards coordinator
- Donna Hewison, student affairs assistant
- Nisa Lawson, student affairs assistant
- Linda Lee, database analyst
- Susan Lyn, human resources business partner
- Kim McIntyre, postdoctoral services coordinator
- Wesley Moir, manager, Communications, Public Relations & Recruitment
- Michael Schiff, coordinator, Faculty Governance
- Judy Tse, student affairs coordinator
- Almey Tse Soriano, manager, Student Affairs
- Natalie Vacianna, program support assistant, Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Lassonde School of Engineering (former student affairs thesis coordinator, Faculty of Graduate Studies)
- Sarah Whitaker, academic affairs officer
- Stephanie Wong, administrative assistant
- Sandra Yiu, graduate student funding liaison officer
2017 – Information Technology Services, Glendon Campus
- Aladin Alaily, director, Information Technology Services, Glendon Campus
- Duncan Appleton, new media technologist, Information Technology Services, Glendon Campus
- Kevin James Friedberg, operations and events technician, Information Technology Services, Glendon Campus
- Mireille Kasembe Nyindu, administrative coordinator, Information Technology Services, Glendon Campus
- Luc Mallet, systems administrator, Glendon Information Technology Services
- Johanna Parrales, web programmer, Glendon Information Technology Services
- Patrick Thibaudeau, manager, Information Systems & Technology Enhanced Learning, Information Technology Services, Glendon Campus
2018 – Office of Institutional Planning & Analysis (OIPA)
- Richard Smith, director, Institutional Research, Reporting and Analysis, OIPA;
- Mark Conrad, director, Institutional Enrolment and Research Planning, OIPA;
- Melissa Schiralli, administrative coordinator, OIPA;
- Sonia Pettinella, senior advisor, Policy and Process, OIPA;
- Sahar Sheikh, senior institutional analyst, OIPA
- Mira Miller, senior institutional analyst;
- Sylvia Lin, senior institutional analyst, OIPA;
- Aziz Quadri, senior SAS technical advisor, OIPA;
- Josephine Tang, SAS programmer, OIPA;
- Iris An, senior financial analyst, OIPA;
- Stephen Childs, senior institutional analyst, OIPA;
- Patrick Cernea, business intelligence strategist, OIPA;
- Howard Ye, research data analyst, OIPA/Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation.
2019 – Gosford Fire Emergency Response Team
- Kelly Young, Assistant Manager, Security Operations, Security Services, Community Safety ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Department
- Samina Sami, Executive Director, Community Safety ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Department
- Cameron Baguley, Executive Assistant, Community Safety ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Department
- Jennifer Myers, Executive Director, Athletics & Recreation
- Duke Dickson, Director, Business Development & Operations, Athletics & Recreation
- Mike O’Brien, Manager, Emergency Preparedness, Community Safety ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Department
- Anthony Barbisan, Executive Director, Ancillary Services
- Donna Hubbert, Director, Parking & Transportation Services, Ancillary Services
- Amal Awini, Director of Housing & Conference Services, Ancillary Services
- Debbie Hansen, Executive Director, Community Support & Services
- Joanie Cameron Pritchett, Director, Community Support & Services
- Yanni Dagonas, Advisor & Deputy Spokesperson, Media Relations
- Aldo Altomare, Director, Security Services, Community Safety ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Department
- Prashanna Kantharasa, Security Supervisor, Security Services, Community Safety ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Department
- James Thomson, Security Supervisor, Security Services, Community Safety ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Department
- Joseph Arthur Young, Security Supervisor, Security Services, Community Safety ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Department
- Joseph Sanguedolce, Manager, Custodial Services, Facilities Services
- Peter Colasante, Manager, Corrective Maintenance, Maintenance, Facilities Services
- Dorylynne Dorsey, Operations Supervisor, Nights, Custodial Services, Facilities Services
- Mandy Groulx, Coordinator, Business & Program Development, Athletics & Recreation
- Janice Walls, Advisor & Deputy Spokesperson, Media Relations
2020 – University Information Technology’s Client Services Team
- Costin Ciuclaru, manager
- Leonard Chow, assistant manager
- Masi Benawa, service desk technician
- Dennis Nada, service desk technician
- Amin Al Buskan, problem analyst
- Samira Salhan, problem analyst
- Ian Huang, technical analyst
- Khalid Mahmood, technical analyst
- Steve Klein, technical analyst
- Paul Crabbe, technical analyst
- Nancy Chiu, technical analyst
- Theresa M. Loftus, customer care specialist
- Irene Chu, bilingual switchboard operator
2021 – The Teaching Commons
- Dr. Geneviève Maheux-Pelletier, Director
- Dr. Lisa Endersby, Educational Developer
- Dr. Mandy Frake-Mistak, Educational Developer
- Dr. Yelin Su, Educational Developer
- Dr. Brian Nairn, Educational Developer
- Dr. Robin Sutherland-Harris, Educational Developer
- Mr. Robert Winkler, Instructional Designer
- Ms. Mary Lynn Belmonte, Administrative Assistant
- Dr. Natasha May, Educational Developer
- Dr. Ameera Ali, Educational Developer, EDI
- Ms. Katharina Pabst, Educational Developer
2022 – The Knowledge Mobilization Unit
- David Phipps, AVP, Research Strategy & Impact
- Michael Johnny, Manager, KM
- Krista Jensen, Senior Knowledge Mobilization Specialist
- Connie Tang, Director, Strategy & Business Development, Research Impact Canada
2023 – Student Engagement, LA&PS Colleges
- Aiyni Agasee, administrative assistant;
- Erica Alusio, student engagement coordinator;
- Mannix Chan, student life and engagement coordinator;
- Marisa Di Leo, learning consultant, transition and elearning services;
- Alicia A. Di Stefano, student engagement coordinator;
- Andrew Fenech, student engagement coordinator;
- Heather Lynee Grebler, student engagement coordinator;
- Nasra Mahad, student engagement coordinator;
- Kimberly Moore, college operations coordinator;
- Bhanu Priya Sharma, student engagement coordinator;
- Gauri Persad, student engagement coordinator;
- Filomena Pestana, administrative assistant; and
- Lavina Sadhwani, student engagement coordinator.
2024 – AMPD Performance Facilities Team
- Ian Albright, manager
- Kyle Derry, technician
- Kimberly Guidolin, events administrator
- Zach Kale, technician
- Scott Rennick, front of house and box office services coordinator
- Victor Wolters, coordinator of technical services
2022 – CHREI Education Team
- Lisa Brown, Strategy and Engagement Specialist - Black Inclusion (On Leave)
- Carolina Ruiz, Senior Advisor, DEDI, Education & Communications
- Christine Sinclair, Senior Advisor, DEDI, Education & Communications
2023 – Amy Gaukel: Senior Executive Officer, Vice-President Equity People & Culture
2024 – Richolette Freckleton: Associate Director, Graduate Research, Scholarships & Awards, Faculty of Graduate Studies
2017 – Lisa Rumiel: Manager, Research Priorities and Strategic Partnerships, Office of the Dean, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
2018 – Greg Langstaff: Coordinator, YU START New Student Transition Program, Division of Students
2019 – Julie Hard: Manager, International Relations, Office of the Dean, Faculty of Health
2020 – Almey Tse Soriano: Graduate Studies Manager, Lassonde School of Engineering
2021 – David Kwok: Associate Director, Entrepreneurship
2022 – Tom Osborne: Assistant Director, Academic Scheduling
2023 – Aimée Mitchell: Research Officer, Office of the Dean, School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design
2024 – Theresa Din: Institute Coordinator, Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research