THE PRESIDENT’S AWARDS shine a spotlight on people who are among the most commendable members of the Memorial University community — teachers, researchers, service providers and publicly engaged groups and individuals nominated by their peers. The recipients have distinguished themselves by helping nurture big ideas and by inspiring co-workers, students and others. They are true leaders on campus and in the community.
DISTINGUISHED TEACHING
Recognizes teaching excellence. Each recipient receives a grant as well as a travel award from the Office of the President.
OUTSTANDING TEACHING | FACULTY
Recognizes outstanding teaching by a faculty member. Each recipient receives an award to be used in support of teaching activities and professional development.
OUTSTANDING GRADUATE & POSTGRADUATE SUPERVISION
Recognizes outstanding supervision of graduate and undergraduate students. Each recipient receives an award to be used in support of activities related to graduate student supervision.
OUTSTANDING RESEARCH
Recognizes researchers who have made outstanding contributions to their scholarly disciplines. Each award includes a research grant.
UNIVERSITY RESEARCH PROFESSOR
A designation above the rank of professor, this is the most prestigious award the university gives for research. This award goes to faculty who have demonstrated a consistently high level of scholarship and whose research is of truly international stature. The designation carries with it a research grant each year for five years and a reduced teaching schedule.
EXEMPLARY EMPLOYEES | CHAMPION OF SERVICE
Awarded to individuals who demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to listening and being responsive to students, the Memorial community, alumni, employers, business and/or community partners; fostering an environment where others thrive; advancing Memorial’s reputation; and developing relationships based upon attentive listening, openness, transparency and trust. Each recipient receives an award.
EXEMPLARY EMPLOYEES | CHAMPION OF INNOVATION (TEAM CATEGORY)
Awarded to individuals who demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to novel approaches, invigorating practices, sustainable operations and experimenting with bold endeavours. Each recipient receives an award.
EXEMPLARY EMPLOYEES | TEAM MEMORIAL
Awarded to a team that demonstrates extraordinary collaboration, interdisciplinary approaches and creative means to engage across locations and/or clearly demonstrates a commitment to working across units and locations to collaboratively align towards Memorial’s vision and goals. Team members share an award.
EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNITY SERVICE
Recognizes faculty or staff who have demonstrated exceptional voluntary contributions to communities or organizations, with significant impact beyond what might normally be considered academic or professional service. Each recipient receives an award.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PARTNERSHIPS
Celebrates exemplary university-community collaboration. Projects receive an award and are featured in a short video produced by CITL.
Dr. Tiffany Lee, an assistant professor in Memorial’s School of Pharmacy, is recognized for her enthusiastic, innovative and collegial approach to teaching, including student support and learning assessment.
Her creative instruction incorporates multiple assessment styles and her teaching strategies include role playing, peer assessment, classroom discussion and individualized feedback. She prepares her students for clinical practice by using case-based and experiential learning and incorporates the voices of patients from marginalized groups into class discussions. At the same time, she provides clear and well-organized syllabi and course materials, ensuring her students understand expectations and learning outcomes.
Her valuable contributions to the scholarship of teaching and learning include extensive publications and presentations at national and international conferences on topics such as critical self-reflection and student advocacy. She applies her expertise to course and curriculum development across multiple delivery modes—she created 11 online courses, two on-campus
clinical skills courses and two advanced practical experiences courses. She extends her expertise to peer mentorship and helps her colleagues create interactive, online-learning content for their courses.
Along with her work with online teaching and learning, Dr. Lee expanded educational access through the Working Professional Program, of which she is director. Recognizing the challenge of a shortage of medical professionals, she created a program curriculum to accommodate the part-time needs of pharmaceutical professionals. Her expertise in curriculum development was invaluable when she took on the task of creating and implementing a new curriculum for the Doctor of Pharmacy Program to ensure it met the field’s evolving needs.
Dr. Lee’s contributions to the School of Pharmacy have been transformative. She is a passionate and caring instructor, a committed professional dedicated to patient service and care and a supportive colleague who shares her knowledge and experience with her peers.
Dr. Isabelle Côté, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, is being recognized for her substantial and effective contributions to the teaching, training and mentorship of the next generation of scholars and professionals.
Her supervisory model helps students reach their full potential by developing their ideas and research skills and by working with them to find resources to back up their research. Her collaborative mentorship approach includes publishing with her students more than anyone else in the department. In 2015, she created a professional development workshop series for the political science graduate program that is now a required graduate course. Dr. Côté also enriches scholarship activities for undergraduate students, helping them publish their work—unusual for undergraduate political science students in Canada—and find opportunities and funding for field work.
Her departmental contributions include strategic planning for improving teaching programs and student experiences. She recently served as director of the Nexus Centre, where she focused on student engagement and well-being and brought faculty and students together to discuss teaching issues. Over several years as a graduate program committee member, Dr. Côté was crucial in making changes to the department’s program. She also helped secure funding to support an academic conference for graduate students and developed and fostered a student travel fund for field work and conference presentations.
Described by fellow instructors as enthusiastic and generous, Dr. Côté inspires them to push the boundaries for their students. Her course evaluations are routinely the best in her program, which itself receives evaluations above the university average. Dr. Côté stands out in a field of award-winning political science instructors due to her drive, empathy, attention to detail and leadership in teaching.
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science professor Dr. Lesley James makes graduate student and post-doctoral fellow supervision a top priority.
She has supervised or co-supervised seven non-thesis master’s students, six thesis-based master’s students, 22 doctoral students, 13 post-doctoral fellows and nine research associates.
She has a keen focus on all aspects of a graduate student’s life. A former student said that, “Dr. James’s support extended beyond academics. She was empathetic to my family’s economic and social crisis . . . and actively sought scholarship opportunities for me, resulting in three scholarships . . . that greatly alleviated my financial burdens.”
One former post-doctoral fellow said, “Her mentorship and guidance have been invaluable and lifelong, shaping my professional journey in ways I could not have imagined.” Another highlighted her leadership, and said, “Dr. James excelled in co-ordinating this complex environment, meticulously selecting team members, facilitating necessary training and securing access to industry experts to bridge any knowledge gaps.”
Many of her 52 peer-reviewed journal publications and 50 conference presentations are co-authored by graduate students and/or post-doctoral fellows. After graduating from Memorial, many of her students have gone on to work in some of the top organizations in Canada and internationally.
Dr. James’s impressive research funding record enhances graduate students’ and post-doctoral fellows’ experiences. She has been awarded more than $5 million in funding from the federal and provincial governments, and from industry. Recently, she was awarded a $3-million grant from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Both graduate students and post-doctoral fellows who work with Dr. James said she not only secures significant research funding that supports their academic work, she has a profound impact on the world around them. One supporter said that her commitment to “environmental sustainability is inspiring.”
Dr. Christine Carter is an internationally lauded clarinetist with an impressive record of artistic dissemination.
Known for her visionary interdisciplinary projects that illuminate the roles of the arts in addressing complex challenges, Dr. Carter, an associate professor in the School of Music, co-founded the acclaimed Iris Trio, an ensemble celebrated for its imaginative programming and virtuosity. The group’s Project Earth is a multiyear, inter-arts performance and recording project that explores themes of human-driven habitat loss and extinction, while centering the beauty and wonder found in nature. She is also co-founder of the Looking Glass Ensemble with Canadian dance artist Shannon Litzenberger.
An award-winning recording artist, she has performed in more than 150 concerts since her appointment at Memorial University, including at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, the Canadian Opera Company, the Climate Museum in New York City and Berlin’s famed Piano Salon Christophori.
A sought-after expert in performance psychology, Dr. Carter is one of the few active concert artists worldwide conducting research in the area, bridging
the gap between research and current practice. She has presented more than 100 performance psychology workshops for thousands of students around the world. Her team’s peer-reviewed article on optimizing music learning, published in Frontiers in Psychology, has been viewed more than 21,000 times, influencing diverse fields including medical education.
In recognition of her influential work, she was inducted into the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists in 2023.
“Dr. Carter is a remarkably productive musician and researcher of the highest calibre whose artistic practice embraces performance, the creation of original works and applied performance science and whose work as a performer, researcher and pedagogue has had a significant impact regionally, nationally and internationally,” said Dr. Hank Knox, a Royal Society of Canada fellow and retired professor from McGill University’s Schulich School of Music.
Dr. Sohrab Zendehboudi has made exceptional contributions to the field of chemical engineering, with a particular focus on transport phenomena, energy and environment and process systems engineering.
A professor in the Department of Process Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, his work on carbon capture, utilization, conversion and storage benefits global efforts to mitigate climate change.
His interdisciplinary approach to research led to extensive collaborations with experts across diverse fields. His partnerships foster innovative research initiatives that led to significant advancements in areas such as biofuel production, oil-spill detection and water treatment.
Dr. Zendehboudi authored or co-authored almost 300 peer-reviewed journal articles, which are among the top 25 per cent in their respective fields, and numerous books and book chapters. His work earned him about 12,000 citations and an h-index of 60. Most recently, he was invited by the Royal Society of Chemistry to write a
book on the uses, challenges and future emulsions in the chemical and energy industry.
A prolific educator and researcher, he supervised or cosupervised approximately 100 highly qualified personnel.
Recognition of his significant contributions led to Dr. Zendehboudi being named to Stanford University’s prestigious World’s Top 2% Scientists list, receipt of the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering’s Lectureship Award and the Terra Nova Young Innovator Award.
“Prof. Zendehboudi’s remarkable achievements in research, mentorship and leadership make him a distinguished candidate for Memorial University’s President’s Award for Outstanding Research,” said Dr. Phillip Servio, a professor and graduate program director in the Department of Chemical Engineering at McGill University. “His contributions to chemical engineering and environmental sciences have not only elevated Memorial University’s research profile, but have had a far-reaching impact on global scientific and industrial practices.”
Dr. Colin Farquharson is an internationally recognized expert in the field of electromagnetic methods in geophysics.
With his game-changing approach, Dr. Farquharson, a professor in the Department of Earth Sciences in the Faculty of Science, is leading the development of more sophisticated and powerful computer-based interpretation methods for geophysical survey data.
His research is creating new insight in critical minerals exploration and is essential for managing and satisfying present-day lifestyle demands, while moving toward a greener economy.
Dr. Farquharson’s group has been one of the main proponents of the adoption of the next-generation of computer Earth models—the 3D digital maps of what’s underground, a “digital-twin” of the Earth’s subsurface.
He has spent his entire career establishing techniques that are directly applicable to real problems by building the remarkably realistic models. His work is unique, has earned him an international reputation and the products of his work are being used by companies worldwide.
He authored or co-authored nearly 90 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals, which have generated approximately 5,500 citations and earned him an h-index of 35. Notably, one of his papers on non-linear inversion has been cited more than 500 times.
Dr. Farquharson has supervised and mentored more than 80 students, researchers and visiting scientists.
His international reach is equally impressive. Dr. Farquharson has been invited to speak at numerous international conferences, including the prestigious Decennial Mineral Exploration Conference, which draws international researchers and industry professionals working in mineral exploration.
“Colin’s scientific output is enormous, both in quality and quantity,” said Dr. Klaus Spitzer, professor emeritus of applied geophysics at the Institute of Geophysics and Geoinformatics, TU Bergakademie Freiberg. “In addition to his demanding methodological work, Colin has repeatedly applied his methods to real field data sets, primarily in the field of mineral exploration. His expertise is truly impressive.”
Dr. Marco Merkli is recognized as a global expert in the mathematical analysis of open quantum systems, where he has made fundamental contributions to the field of mathematical physics.
Dr. Merkli, a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics in the Faculty of Science, is the only researcher to ever complete mathematical validation of several widely used approximations frequently relied on by applied researchers. The rigorous approach is considered one of the most important advancements in mathematical theory of open systems in recent years.
Besides his many vital contributions to the study of dynamical properties of open quantum systems, Dr. Merkli developed several models that he used to address various and important problems in physics, quantum information, chemistry and biology. Through his work, he takes popular existing scientific models and develops mathematical tools to solve them with mathematical accuracy. For example, his cutting-edge research shed new insight on quantum processes within biological systems, such as photosynthesis.
An innovative thinker, he has ongoing collaborations with colleagues across the globe, been invited to conduct research at the famed Los Alamos National Laboratory in the U.S. and the illustrious Institut Henri Poincaré in France, and led numerous student and research exchange programs.
He authored more than 65 refereed articles in top international research journals, garnering more than 1,500 citations, a remarkable number for this field of study. He has been invited to present at more than 60 conferences and mentored more than 20 nextgeneration researchers.
“Dr. Merkli has consistently made outstanding contributions to the fields of mathematical quantum theory with applications to quantum chemistry and biology,” said Dr. Horia Cornean, a professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences in the Faculty of Engineering and Science at Aalborg University. “His research achievements are held in the highest regard by various groups of scientists working in mathematics, physics and chemistry.”
Upon joining Distance Education and Learning Technologies, now Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, from Memorial’s Grenfell Campus in October 2008, Darcy Andrews quickly established himself as a valued member of the classroom technologist support team.
As a team member, his responsibilities include addressing everyday classroom multimedia needs and providing support for special events and conferences.
Well-known for his ability to effectively troubleshoot technological issues, he is often the person who faculty and staff members call when help is needed. When a call for assistance came during his off hours as well as a snowstorm, he drove—slowly and carefully—to campus to resolve the issue.
Mr. Andrews often takes on new challenges in response to the university community’s evolving needs. He was instrumental in helping Memorial navigate the many disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, often
working directly with instructors and staff to help them use new video conferencing tools for remote work and instruction. He was also responsible for setting up and supporting many virtual town halls, graduations and other ceremonies held during the pandemic years.
He again displayed his dedication to service when a cyberattack left many Grenfell Campus classrooms unusable just days prior to the start of the 2024 winter semester. On Saturday, Jan. 6, CITL received a request for help; less than 24 hours later, Mr. Andrews was on a flight from St. John’s to Corner Brook. He started work from the moment he arrived, often staying on campus late into the evenings to ensure all classrooms were up and running for the first day of classes.
Mr. Andrews has an exceptional reputation for his reliability, attention to detail and professionalism throughout Memorial University.
A Campus Enforcement and Patrol employee for more than 14 years, Colin Lane exemplifies the highest standard of service and dedication, consistently going above and beyond to foster a welcoming and secure campus environment.
Officer Lane exhibits an unwavering commitment to safety and well-being. Whether through proactive crime prevention, offering support to students in distress or calmly handling high-stress situations, he always demonstrates an exceptional level of care and compassion. He also makes time to engage with students, faculty and staff, fostering a sense of trust and collaboration between campus enforcement and the university.
He has an amazing talent for making the people he interacts with feel cared for. One example of this was shortly before the Easter holiday last year. He bravely donned a bunny outfit and asked co-workers to write words of encouragement on slips of paper, put them in a basket and shared them with a co-worker who had recently lost a family member. He then proceeded
to canvas the whole building and asked everyone he encountered to take a slip of paper and leave one with a positive note on it for someone else.
When there are requests for volunteers, Officer Lane is among the first to step forward. He assists with Campus Enforcement and Patrol’s annual holiday toy drive, regularly collects donations for the Campus Food Bank and has dressed as Santa Claus during the holiday period. His dedication to Memorial goes beyond the regular workday. During the past two summers, he spent his evenings providing parking on the St. John’s campus for Churchill Square Music Festival concertgoers in exchange for donations for the campus food bank.
Through his dedication to his role and his commitment to Memorial University, Officer Lane creates an enjoyable and safe campus for employees and students alike.
Elizabeth Simms, manager, planning and strategic operations in the School of Graduate Studies began her career at Memorial in the Office of the Chief Information Officer in 2014, later moving to the Office of the Provost and then on to the School of Graduate Studies in 2022.
Ms. Simms has been innovative in improving the school’s policies and procedures to better serve graduate students. She championed a breakfast program for graduate students and a program for graduate student families.
She also contributed to a pilot program that provides parental leave support for graduate students in research programs. She is currently leading a committee to help formalize the benefit beyond the pilot stage and worked directly with each student who availed of the program. Ms. Simms goes above and beyond for students in financial need by strategizing with them while they navigate the scholarship process. Due to her efforts, the number of graduate student applications for scholarships and awards has largely increased.
Ms. Simms is eager to support equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism initiatives. She worked to recruit, hire and mentor graduate students from equity-deserving groups and her mentorship has made a real difference in the lives of many. She was an integral part in helping launch a Black graduate student lunch and subsequently provided advice and support to graduate students to form the Black Graduate Student Society. She provided them with financial advice, helped them establish a budget for an event and guided them through planning.
Ms. Simms is an outstanding employee dedicated to making students feel supported and valued.
The Centre for Social Enterprise team, Sarah Croft, Alyssa King and Nancy Leung, and led by Dr. Gillian Morrissey, personify innovation.
Since its inception in 2016, the centre has been a leading force in social innovation, demonstrating a remarkable ability to drive change through creative, sustainable and collaborative methods. The team has embraced risk, learned from failure and continuously evolved its practices to advance a brighter future for Newfoundland and Labrador.
Among the centre’s achievements are several first-of-itskind programs for the province. One such program, the Social Ventures Incubator, supports Memorial University students and recent alumni, helping them develop innovative solutions to pressing social issues. Similarly, the Investing Fellowship Program introduces students to the growing field of social finance.
The centre also developed a Social Enterprise Living Lab, which is a live case study that allows students to learn about and work alongside a social enterprise operating
in the province. Students complete their course work using the lab as a case study to experience how their academic efforts become operational in real life.
Work Experience in Social Enterprise, the centre’s cornerstone program, invested more than $93,000 in wage subsidies to hire students to work with Newfoundland and Labrador-based social enterprises in 2023 alone. The funding provides students with valuable paid work experience and empowers social enterprises to develop their operations and scale their impact.
The Centre for Social Enterprise team frequently reevaluates its processes and programs, incorporating feedback and exploring new methods to enhance outcomes for students and the community. The team’s approach has resulted in sustained progress that is having a lasting, positive impact on the community, faculty and students.
The information technology staff at Grenfell Campus and in the Office of the Chief Information Officer, and the networks and electronics staff from the Department of Technical Services, worked collaboratively and tirelessly in response to the cyber-attack at Grenfell Campus.
On Dec. 29, 2023, Grenfell Campus faced a cyber-attack that paralyzed communications, teaching and research tools and access to information. The attack was quickly detected and an urgent call for assistance went out to information technology staff in the Office of the Chief Information Officer in St. John’s and on the ground at Grenfell Campus.
The urgent situation meant immediate action was necessary and the response was nothing short of remarkable. Team members committed to the task at hand and, most importantly, kept students front and centre. The main goal was to support the academic mission and ensure faculty could continue their work in teaching and research.
The situation involved a nearly around-the-clock response in the initial days and weeks. Due to the tremendous effort on behalf of the team, there was only a two-day delay to the semester. To go from a campus without the use of technology infrastructure, hardware, online presence or digital files to a campus that could open, even in a limited way, defied the odds.
As the semester continued, the team transitioned to maintenance and the longer-term rebuilding plans that included the installation of the secure MUNNet network at Grenfell. The infrastructure upgrade required a twoweek network outage on campus. Usually this type of outage and upgrade would take at least a year to organize, but it was planned over the course of a few short months and executed during a two-week period in June.
What started as a disaster became a remarkable story of success and resilience by July 1, 2024.
Dr. Paul De Decker, an associate professor in the Department of Linguistics in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, is dedicated to supporting the stuttering community in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Through his contributions to several projects, advocacy and awareness campaigns, he is making a difference in the lives of people who stutter.
Through his work with the Communication Collaborative and the Newfoundland and Labrador Stuttering Association, Dr. De Decker raises awareness of stuttering-related issues, advocates for the rights and adequate supports for people with communication delays and disorders and conducts research to identify obstacles that people who stutter face. He has received grants and organized collaborations with government agencies and officials to bring awareness to the struggles and challenges that people who stutter go through every day.
With the mission of rebuilding confidence and hope for people who stutter by dismantling stuttering myths, stereotypes and barriers, he created a podcast called Some Stutter, Luh! The podcast is on track to air its 100th episode in early 2025.
He also uses film to advocate for the stuttering community. In 2020 he worked with student Laura Tulk and produced the film Getting the Words Out, a documentary short about the stigma people who stutter face. In 2024 he released Unapologetic: challenging discommunication, a film produced in partnership with award-winning documentary filmmaker Christopher Richardson and in solidarity with people in Newfoundland and Labrador who stutter.
In May 2023 Dr. De Decker, as primary lead, launched a two-poster educational resource introducing stuttering awareness to the K-12 school system.
Dr. De Decker is a former recipient of the Glenn Roy Blundon Award that is presented to individuals who demonstrate commitment to disability inclusion, equity and accessibility at Memorial University.
When it comes to cancer research, generalizing across cases can lead to helpful knowledge.
However, each person with cancer is an individual with a unique experience with the illness.
This experience isn’t always heard during the research process.
The Public Interest Group on Cancer Research is a collaboration between Memorial University Faculty of Medicine scientists, including one who also works for N.L. Health Services, and people whose lives have been affected by cancer.
Members work together to set research directions, codesign studies that address patient and family priorities, disseminate public and scientific knowledge about cancer and advocate for cancer-affected individuals and families.
The group published several scholarly manuscripts with public partner co-authors, presented at countless community and scholarly events, hosted a conference on cancer, co-developed and co-led multiple projects and launched a podcast.
Jason Wiseman, a public member of the group since its inception, is a co-lead of the project. He believes much of the group’s success comes down to the central role people affected by cancer has in the group’s work and says it is truly a member-driven project.
While Mr. Wiseman participated in some research during his time at university (he is a social worker) he says this is different.
“This experience has been more immersive, and a lot more fun,” he said.
The deeply publicly engaged nature of the partnership is also a new development for Dr. Sevtap Savas, a professor in the Faculty of Medicine and group lead.
“I was a lab rat for a long time,” she said with a laugh.
Once she began to understand the value of working with community though, it all clicked.
“It is a massive shift and very valuable one,” she said. “We are stronger and more efficient. And we impact the community and academia through our work together.”
