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President's Blue and Gold Award of Excellence Recipients

The President’s Blue and Gold Award of Excellence recognizes individuals and cross-functional teams in the administration of the university, who have demonstrated excellence in providing services, participating in or leading teams, and demonstrating the TMU values to achieve sustained and outstanding results that have significantly advanced the university’s mission. Individual recipients’ scope of influence and responsibility may be at the departmental and/or university-wide level.

Individual recipients receive a certificate and a one-time monetary award of $5,000 (subject to applicable deductions). Team recipients (a group of two and up to 20 individuals) receive individual certificates and a total one-time monetary award of $7,000 (subject to applicable deductions) to be shared equally among members.

Key criteria: Innovation; operational excellence; people first

2026 recipients

Monica Mckay

Equity and Community Inclusion

Over the past 30+ years, Monica Mckay has dedicated her career to the wellbeing and success of Indigenous students, staff, and faculty at Toronto Metropolitan University. Through her leadership, vision, and deep commitment to community-building, she carries her ancestors and her Nisga’a teachings with her as she weaves a strong web of relationships across campus and beyond, always mindful of the generations of Indigenous students, staff, and faculty still to come. That web continues to transform TMU as we walk on our journey of truth-telling and reconciliation. Monica’s institutional fortitude and enduring impact exemplify this award of excellence.

Community Building Working Group

  • Sharon Abrahams, Equity and Community Inclusion
  • Nina Acco Weston, Equity and Community Inclusion
  • Jennifer Alefounder, Human Resources
  • Lisa Barnoff, School of Medicine
  • Andrew Bisnauth, Student Affairs
  • Marcia Boniferro, Student Affairs
  • Tanya De Mello, Equity and Community Inclusion
  • Margaret Fisher, Community Safety & Security
  • Erin Hallock, Equity and Community Inclusion
  • Julia Hennessey, University Relations
  • Lee Hodge, Student Wellbeing
  • Lisa Langley, Human Resources
  • Curtis Maloley, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
  • Hannah Medina, Equity and Community Inclusion
  • Zenab Pathan, Office of the Vice Provost, Faculty Affairs
  • Andrew Pettit, Athletics & Recreation
  • Clara Tam, Student Wellbeing
  • Kaitlyn Taylor-Asquini, Student Affairs
  • Debbie Thompson, Equity and Community Inclusion
  • Cheryl Trudeau, Equity and Community Inclusion
  • Hsin-Li Sherry Yuan Hunter, The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education

The Community Building Working Group (CBWG) exemplifies compassion and equity through institutional collaboration. Formed in 2024 in response to the impact on the TMU community from the geopolitical conflict in Israel and Palestine, this group of dedicated front-line staff took on the additional work on the sides of their desks to foster connection, well-being, and healing university-wide. Their impactful initiatives, including sessions dealing with managing grief, creating additional counselling opportunities, education on anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, providing conflict resolution skills training, were centred on learning and bringing the community together.

School of Medicine Accreditation & Launch Team

  • Terese Antoine-Robinson, School of Medicine
  • Michelle Bourne, School of Medicine
  • Melissa Carvalho, School of Medicine
  • Adrian Frisina, School of Medicine
  • Saniya Hussain, School of Medicine
  • Nadiia Kachynska, School of Medicine
  • Sanya Khan, School of Medicine
  • Victoria Lee, Facilities Management and Development
  • Marc Mainguy, School of Medicine
  • Meghan McCauley-Brown, School of Medicine
  • Jule Mycan, Facilities Management and Development
  • Gloria Namrot, School of Medicine
  • Sharanjeet Kaur Nijjar, School of Medicine
  • Sidrah Noor, School of Medicine
  • Anuraag Pooni, Human Resources
  • Chelsea Rudnicki, Human Resources
  • Grant Te Brugge, Facilities Management and Development
  • Crystal Tripple, Office of the Vice Provost, Faculty Affairs
  • Johanna Vandermaas, University Relations
  • Alexa Vrzovski, School of Medicine

The launch of the TMU SoM demonstrated outstanding administrative and operational excellence through seamless collaboration between SoM and TMU central teams. Together, they built a new medical school from the ground up, achieving unprecedented accreditation of the MD program and 16 residency programs, and securing affiliation agreements with all major hospital and institutional partners across Brampton and surrounding areas. Operating above capacity, the teams streamlined complex processes, recruited and onboarded over 100 staff and clinical faculty leaders, appointed 500+ clinical faculty, and implemented a new learner management system and facility - showcasing innovation, efficiency, and strategic impact across TMU.

Past recipients

  • Donna Bell
    Senate
  • IBZ Team, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
    • Tabitha Grant, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
    • Shiqiang Jing, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
    • Wesley Kosiba, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
    • Tarek Sadek, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
    • Torrey Sirdevan, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
    • Ashutosh Syal, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science

  • Nika Zolfaghari
    Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
  • OVPRI CFREF Proposal Team
    • Sibat Anam, Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation
    • Javad Ghatta, Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation
    • Dayle Levine, Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation
    • Tearney McDermott, Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation
    • Kevin Moonoosawmy, Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation
    • Daphne Paszterko, Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation

  • Marcia Boniferro
    • Student Affairs
  • Strategic Leads - Renaming - Central Comms and University Relations
    • Karen Benner, Office of the President
    • Derek Flack, University Relations
    • Katherine Greflund, University Relations
    • Johanna Vandermaas, Office of the President

  • Standing Strong Task Force Team
    • Joanne Dallaire, Office of the Provost & Vice-President, Academic
    • Rachel DiSaia, Yeates School of Graduate Studies
    • Michael Doxtater, The Creative School
    • Catherine Ellis, Faculty of Arts
    • Cecile Farnum, Toronto Metropolitan University Library
    • Tracey King, Human Resources
    • Riley Kucheran, The Creative School
    • Melanie Martin-Griem, Office of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation
    • Heather Rollwagen, Faculty of Arts
  • The University's Pandemic Essential On-Campus Workers Team
    • Community Safety and Security
    • Computing and Communications Services
    • Facilities Management and Development - Facilities Services
    • Facilities Management and Development - Custodial and Groundskeeping
    • Facilities Management and Development - Maintenance and Operations
    • Financial Services
    • Financial Services - Shipping and Receiving
    • Housing and Residence Life
    • Toronto Metropolitan University Library and Archives
    • Student Learning Centre
    • University Business Services - Campus Store
    • University Business Services - Event and Space Reservations
    • University Business Services - Food Services
    • University Business Services - OneCard

  • Tanya Vlaskalin
    Facilities Management and Development
  • Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching Team
    • Mariam Ahmed, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
    • Restiani Andriati, Computing and Communications Services
    • David Arromba, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
    • Mirela Barbulescu, Computing and Communications Services
    • Tara Bartolini, entre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
    • Dina Basseri, Computing and Communications Services
    • Paola Borin, Office of the Vice-Provost Academic
    • Adam Chaboryk, Computing and Communications Services
    • Jasmine Cherian, Office of the Vice-Provost Academic
    • Julia Gingerich, Office of the Vice-Provost Academic
    • Stephanie Goetz, Computing and Communications Services
    • Sally Goldberg Powell, Office of the Vice-Provost Academic
    • Suzanne Hicks, Office of the Vice-Provost Academic
    • Geoff Kolomayz, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
    • Shelley Loader, Computing and Communications Services
    • Curtis Maloley, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
    • Sara Mazrouei, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
    • Allyson Miller, Office of the Vice-Provost Academic
    • Victoria Murdoch, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
    • Karyn Olsen, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
    • Sadia Rahmani, Computing and Communications Services
    • Andrea Ridgley, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
    • Erin Rielly Clarke, Computing and Communications Services
    • Nada Savicevic, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
    • Michelle Schwartz, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
    • Syeda Shah, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
    • Noura Sinno, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
    • Katherine Turner, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
    • Arianne Velasquez, Computing and Communications Services
    • Olanike (Nikki) Waheed, Office of the Vice-Provost Academic
    • Lauren Wilson, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
  • Student Housing COVID Response & Student Experience Team
    • Malcolm Alphonso, University Business Services
    • Amanda Barber, Facilities Management and Development
    • Valerie Bruce, Student Affairs
    • Lance Campbell, Community Safety and Security
    • Gillian D'Agostino, Community Safety and Security
    • Marwan El Chafei, University Business Services
    • Simon Finn, Student Affairs
    • Debora Lamch, Facilities Management and Development
    • Marcelle Mullings, Student Affairs
    • Kim Lan Sauer, Facilities Management and Development
    • Mark Sulmona, Community Safety and Security

  • Nelufur Bhasin
    Business Career Hub, Ted Rogers School of Management
  • Faculty of Law Startup Team
    • Gina Alexandris, Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic
    • Andre Bacchus, Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic
    • Scott Bailie, Office of the Registrar
    • Matthew Baker, University Relations
    • Tim Bartkiw, Human Resources and Organizational Behaviour, Ted Rogers School of Management
    • Giselle Basanta, Office of the General Counsel and Board Secretariat
    • Heather Belot, University Relations
    • Chris Bentley, Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic
    • Sara Berman, Ryerson International
    • Rachel Beveridge, Office of the President
    • Cristina Blesa, University Relations
    • MaryClaire Brooks, University Advancement
    • Barbara Cecchetto, Office of the Registrar
    • Erika Danziger, Office of the Registrar
    • Paula Doyle, Office of the Registrar
    • Krista Effer, Office of the Registrar
    • Ronald Ferguson, Office of the Registrar
    • Nik Firka, University Relations
    • Derek Flack, University Relations
    • Sari Graben, Law and Business, Ted Rogers School of Management
    • Charmaine Hack, Office of the Registrar
    • Janet Hercz, Facilities Management and Development
    • Darrick Heyd, University Planning
    • Graham Hudson, Department of Criminology, Faculty of Arts
    • Sarena Knapik, Office of the Registrar
    • Hau Chi (Gigi) Law, Diversity Institute, Ted Rogers School of Management
    • Avner Levin, Law and Business, Ted Rogers School of Management
    • Mark Lovewell, Department of Economics, Faculty of Arts
    • Michael Lund, University Relations
    • Agnieszka Nowak, Facilities Management and Development
    • Stephen Onyskay, University Planning
    • Alexandra Orlova, Department of Criminology, Faculty of Arts
    • Diane Ossher, Office of the Registrar
    • Nikita Ovsyannikov, University Relations
    • Hersh Perlis, Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic
    • Nancy Pham, Ryerson International
    • Carolyn Posa, Office of the Registrar
    • Catherine Redmond, Office of the General Counsel and Board Secretariat
    • Maria Manuela Riqueza, Office of the Registrar
    • Sabiha Smith, University Relations
    • Leanne Stevens, Office of the General Counsel and Board Secretariat
    • Dana Thomas, Library and Archives
    • Alda Toste, Office of the Registrar
    • Johanna Vandermaas, Office of the President
    • Luca Vani, Office of the Registrar
    • Alex Wellington, Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts
    • James Wentzell, University Relations
    • Pui San (Sandy) Yeung, Facilities Management and Development
    • Kelly Zinkiewich, University Relations

  • Amy Casey
    Office of the President
  • Human Rights Services

  • Paul Stenton
    University Planning
  • Congress Operations Committee

  • Heather Lane Vetere
    Office of the Vice-Provost, Students
  • Denise O'Neil Green
    Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
  • First Year Engineering Office Team