Congratulations to all the Principal's Staff Award winners for 2025-2026!
On this page:
- Winners of the Principal’s Staff Awards for:
Community Engagement
Kayla Forrester
Undergraduate Advisor/Administrator
Department of Economics
Kayla has made a significant impact beyond her formal role by fostering connections, creating opportunities for dialogue, and strengthening support networks across the UTM community. Through her leadership with the Black Leadership Advisory Committee, Connections & Conversations, and other campus initiatives, she has helped cultivate spaces where students, staff, faculty, and librarians can build meaningful relationships, access mentorship opportunities, and feel a stronger sense of community. Colleagues praise her as a dedicated community builder who is “always ready to assist and support.” Through her collaborative spirit, volunteer service, and commitment to creating positive change, Kayla exemplifies the values of community engagement.
Emerging Leadership
Joe Wong
Senior ServiceNow Developer
Information & Instructional Technology Services (I&ITS)
Joe has distinguished himself through his initiative, collaborative spirit, and commitment to supporting those around him. Whether leading complex ServiceNow projects, mentoring colleagues, or sharing knowledge gained through professional development opportunities, he consistently demonstrates the qualities of a leader who inspires others and strengthens team capacity across UTM. One nominator describes Joe as someone who “leads through action, invests in others, and consistently contributes to making UTM a better place to work and learn.”
Enhancing the UTM Experience (The Karen Thiffault Award)
Chrystal Colquhoun
Data and Assessment Analyst
Career Centre
Through her innovative use of data, assessment, and student feedback, Chrystal has helped shape more responsive, evidence-based services that benefit thousands of students, recent graduates, faculty, employers, and campus partners. Her leadership in developing new learning opportunities, strengthening assessment practices, and improving service delivery has had a lasting impact on the UTM community. As one nominator noted, Chrystal “improves UTM services where it matters most: where students and recent graduates need guidance, clarity, and access to opportunity.” Colleagues also praise her work which makes theirs "intentional, measurable, and responsive,” ensuring student voices directly inform meaningful change across campus.
Megan McBride
Undergraduate Advisor
Department of English & Drama
Through innovative advising programs, student-centered initiatives, and an unwavering commitment to belonging and inclusion, Megan has helped strengthen the academic and community experience for students across the department. Her leadership in developing mentorship opportunities, experiential learning initiatives, and community-building events has fostered meaningful connections among students, faculty, and staff while contributing to continued growth and engagement within the department.
She is described as “a passionate advocate for students” who helps them feel supported, valued, and capable of achieving their goals. Her warmth, creativity, and dedication have made a lasting impact on the UTM experience for countless students.
Michelle Bae
Graduate Student & TA Process Coordinator
Department of Chemical & Physical Sciences
Through her exceptional commitment to students, faculty, and colleagues, Michelle has helped create a more welcoming, connected, and supportive campus experience. One nominator described her as “an exemplar of kindness, generosity, departmental stewardship, and advocacy for the students she serves.” Whether supporting graduate students through challenges, fostering a sense of belonging, or creating opportunities for engagement and success, Michelle exemplifies the spirit of the Karen Thiffault Award through her dedication to enhancing the UTM experience for all.
Helena Rebelo
Service Worker, Caretaking
Facilities Management & Planning
Through her exceptional dedication, professionalism, and care, Helena helps create the clean, safe, and welcoming spaces that support learning, collaboration, and community across UTM. Known for anticipating needs and responding quickly to challenges, she consistently goes above and beyond to ensure campus spaces remain welcoming and accessible for all. Colleagues describe Helena as someone who “radiates kindness, patience, and positivity in everything she does.” She exemplifies the high level of service delivery and professionalism this award seeks to recognize.
Karolina Szymanska
Assistant Director, Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs
Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean
Karolina’s contributions have transformed graduate student and postdoctoral programming through innovative initiatives, community-building efforts, and enhanced support services. From expanding orientation programming and streamlining campus affiliation processes to creating the SPOT, a flex-work space for graduate and and postdoctoral scholars, she has strengthened belonging and improved the experience of these growing communities across campus.
One nominator praises her as “a hub of community-building and expertise for graduate students and postdocs,” highlighting her exceptional commitment to creating spaces, programs, and opportunities that help students and scholars thrive.
Special Consideration Request (SCR) Team
Albert Joy, Joe Wong & Ruzbeh Valodwala (photo not available)
Information & Instructional Technology
Through the design and implementation of the SCR portal, the team transformed a previously fragmented process into a streamlined, equitable, and user-friendly system that supports thousands of students across UTM. By centralizing requests, improving accessibility, and creating a consistent experience for students navigating academic challenges, the team has significantly enhanced service delivery while reducing administrative burden for departments. Through their commitment to collaboration, innovation, and service excellence, the SCR Team has made a lasting impact on the UTM community.
The Facilities Management & Planning (FMP) - Grounds Team
Andrew Forbes; James Brydges; Paulino Fernando; Derek Wood; Brandon Pierremas; Mark Babaev; Charles Baker; Brian Rylance; Gurjeet Kaur; Lukasz Posluszny; Dylan Creighton; Tupinder Araich; Hector Aguinaga; Kyle Hayter
Throughout the year, the FMP Grounds team plays a vital role in creating a safe, welcoming, and vibrant campus environment for everyone. From maintaining beautiful outdoor spaces and supporting major campus events, to ensuring pathways and roadways remain accessible during severe weather, the Grounds Team consistently goes above and beyond to enhance daily life at UTM through innovation, sustainability, and exceptional service.
Colleagues praise their dedication to maintaining spaces that foster pride, belonging, and community. One nominator noted that the Grounds Team’s “ability to anticipate needs, implement forward-thinking solutions, and consistently deliver high-quality service” makes them an outstanding example of the values this award recognizes.
Leadership
Farzana Reburiano
Assistant Director, Academic Financial Operations
Budget, Planning & Finance
A trusted advisor, mentor, and collaborative leader, Farzana has consistently demonstrated exceptional problem-solving skills, inspired confidence during periods of change, and empowered those around her to succeed. Her leadership has helped teams navigate complex challenges, build consensus, and deliver outstanding results in support of the broader UTM community.
Colleagues describe Farzana as “a leader who consistently delivers results while fostering a culture of professionalism and collaboration,” and note that she demonstrates "leadership that uplifts others.”
Well-Being
UTM Graduate Student Wellness Series Team
Denise Alton, Health & Counselling Centre; Jessica Bailey, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean; Alyssa Madrasto and Natasha Walli, Institute for Management & Innovation
Through collaborative partnership the UTM Graduate Student Wellness Series team, has created a campus-wide wellness program that supports graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in building resilience, fostering connection, and prioritizing their mental health and well-being. Since its launch, the series has grown and invites approximately 1,000 graduate students and postdoctoral scholars through workshops, community-building events, and wellness-focused programming designed to help participants thrive both academically and personally.
The series is described as “an exceptional, sustainable, and high-impact wellness program” that has enriched the graduate experience and created meaningful opportunities for connection, support, and belonging across UTM.
