Dean's Service Award Recipients

2023 recipients

Alagan Anpalagan

Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science

Dr. Anpalagan is a Professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering. Since joining TMU in 2001, he has held various administrative positions in the Departmental undergraduate and graduate programs, served in numerous committees at the Faculty and Departmental level. In addition, he served in international conference technical program committees, editorial boards and review panels. He was recognized for his outstanding and sustained service to engineering profession and education with IEEE Canada J.M. Ham Outstanding Engineering Educator Award, Ryerson YSGS Outstanding Contribution to Graduate Education Award, and IEEE M.B. Broughton Central Canada Service Award.

Wendy Cukier

School of Business Management, Ted Rogers School of Management

The impact of Dr. Wendy Cukier’s work on the reputation of the Ted Rogers School of Management and Toronto Metropolitan University would be difficult to overstate. Through the Diversity Institute, Future Skills Centre, the Women’s Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, and Lifeline Afghanistan she makes a material difference in the lives of students, female entrepreneurs, and community members. Her service portfolio continues work begun decades ago supported by her skills as fundraiser and researcher who can develop and manage programs that target issues such as workplace skills development, innovation and entrepreneurship, and inclusion.

Seth Dworkin

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science

Dr. Seth Dworkin is a Professor and Canada Research Chair in Mechanical Engineering. He is deeply engaged in service in his research community and at TMU at all levels, from chairing department council, to serving on the Board of Governors. Dr. Dworkin focuses many of his efforts on improving the TMU experience of others, having served as Dimensions Faculty Chair for FEAS in support of EDI in SRC, and working in collaboration with YSGS to create the position of Academic Lead, Postdoctoral Fellows, responsible for developing postdoctoral experience and community at TMU.

Yi Feng

School of Accounting and Finance, Ted Rogers School of Management

Dr. Yi Feng is among the most generous contributors to service in the Finance Department and highly deserving of this year’s TRSM Dean’s Service award. Last year, she served in numerous committees and councils, where she diligently represented Finance department. Yi recently took the important role of coordination for the Student Managed Investment Fund course, an exemplary course where students experience advanced investment skills trading real dollars. From application/recruitment to audit/assessment, she has been an excellent advocate for all stakeholders of SMIF. Yi brings a spirit of collaboration and selflessness which makes her an invaluable member of Finance.

Jonghun (Jay) Park

School of Graphic Communications Management, The Creative School

Dr. Jay Park is an engaged mentor and scholar, committed to improving equity diversity and inclusion in his discipline. He has played an integral role in expanding packaging focused-curriculum and industry partnerships at TMU. His extracurricular mentorship of students has led to several first place wins in prestigious packaging design competitions. Dr. Park is a member of the EDI committee at GCM as well as holding several leadership positions that help to integrate Korean-Canadian research collaborations. In 2022, he was the lead organizer for the Canada-Korea Conference on Science and Technology, which brought together over 400 researchers and industry partners.

Sarah Sabatinos

Department of Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Science

Dr. Sarah Sabatinos has never shied away from the duty of service since she started her TMU career in 2014. Over the last 8 years, Dr. Sabatinos has served on nearly every departmental committee, and has overseen, the Herculean feat of two periodic program reviews (PPR) as program director. She has been the graduate program director for Molecular Science since 2021 and she continues to serve the department with the poise, competency, creativity and dedication. Without question she is admired by all her colleagues and is a service hero in the faculty of science and across the university.

Dale Smith

Department of English, Faculty of Arts

Dale Smith’s ongoing dedication to service both at the university and in the field of creative writing is exemplary. Currently in his second term as Undergraduate Program Director, Dale has led many key initiatives in the English Department, including completing the first English Periodic Program Review, developing a Creative Writing concentration, and revitalizing its Program Advisory Council. At the university level, he has led key curriculum reviews, served on the Academic Standards Committee, and now serves as Chair of the Liberal Studies Committee, in addition to serving on regular faculty committees and completing manuscript and tenure reviews in the discipline.

Luke Taylor

Lincoln Alexander School of Law

Luke Taylor has gone above and beyond any expectations of service of a new, tenure-stream faculty member. Luke took on, without hesitation, leadership of the school’s curriculum committee in what has been an intensive period of curricular revision and change. In addition, Luke has served on three other time-intensive committees: academic standing, admissions and teaching and research norms. He has impossibly found the time to coach students for moots and is the advisor to the school’s LGBTQ2S+ student group. For all these, he is the worthy recipient of this year’s Lincoln Alexander School of Law Dean’s Service Award.

Magdalena Ugarte

School of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Community Services

Since joining SURP in 2018, Dr. Ugarte has made exceptional contributions to service that seeks to advance racial justice within and beyond TMU, far exceeding expectations for pre-tenure faculty. As the Departmental Hiring Committee’s Equity Advocate and founding Co-Chair of the School’s Anti-Systemic Racism and Discrimination Working Group, she has helped identify gaps and led initiatives regarding anti-racism in curriculum redevelopment, student mentorship, hiring practices, and community-engaged teaching and research that serve community priorities. She also sits on diverse faculty and university-wide committees. Externally, she serves as Co-Chair of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning’s Gender and Diversity Track.

Laurel Walzak

RTA School of Media, The Creative School

Laurel Walzak is an Associate Professor and Program Director of RTA Sport Media at TMU. She has provided exceptional service to the university, specifically to the RTA School of Media at The Creative School. Since the start of the 2021 Fall Semester, Walzak has been the Undergraduate Program Director for Sport Media. Laurel is Chair, CLAC, serves on the Curriculum Committee, leading the program's PPR, performs service such as with Fonty’s SPECO and Chile UCC relations for internationalization strategy. Walzak has continuously promoted the reputation of RTA Sport Media, as well as her profession to the broader community.

Ian Young

School of Occupational and Public Health, Faculty of Community Services

Dr. Young provided significant leadership in the development, approval, and planning process for a new MSc program in Occupational and Public Health over the past several years. This included leading the letter of intent, full proposal, and peer review process. The program was approved by Senate in May 2021 and officially launched in Fall 2022. This is a substantial achievement as the first graduate program in the School of Occupational and Public Health. Dr. Young has also been engaged in numerous other service roles the past year, including Senate, Academic Integrity Council, and Departmental Hiring and Evaluation Committees, among others.

Past recipients