The Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education has almost 200 appointed staff and faculty members, in addition to about 750 casual staff. So, how do you celebrate their many and varied accomplishments earned throughout the year? On June 23, the Faculty held the first annual recognition event to publicly acknowledge the many ways its staff and faculty have excelled at all levels over the past academic year.
“All of our staff and faculty contribute greatly to the fulfilment of our Faculty’s mandate. It is their dedication and creativity that bring our vision and values to reality – in our teaching and research, our physical activity and sport, and in our organizational life,” said Rosanne Lopers-Sweetman, chief administrative officer at KPE. “And what a year it has been!”
In addition to already established awards and recognitions for research and staff issued by the Faculty, U of T and external institutions, the Faculty introduced the KPE Integration Award, given to associate professor Caroline Fusco and graduate student Amanda DiLisio for the Change Room Project, an Award of Excellence in Teaching, awarded to professor Michael Atkinson, acting vice-dean, academic affairs, and the Outstanding Casual Employee Award, given to Olivia Allen, Sasha Dipnarine, Sarita Patel, Sarah Teixeira and Alanna Veerman.
KPE staff mingle at RecognizingU event
The event was also an opportunity to acknowledge professor Gretchen Kerr for her contributions to the Faculty in the role of acting dean in the past academic year, while Dean Ira Jacobs was on administrative leave. Describing her as wonderful to work with, acting assistant dean of co-curricular physical activity Beth Ali praised Kerr for stepping into the role with much competence, grace, sensitivity and kindness.
“We discovered you have the nicest way of asking people to take things on,” said Lopers-Sweetman.
“The Faculty has flourished under your leadership,” added Ali. “We are grateful for everything you have done and look forward to continuing our work with you as the vice dean a year from now.”
Professor Kerr, who will be going on administrative leave before assuming her role of vice dean in a year, said the best part of the role had been hearing what others have to say about the Faculty.
“We are a model for so many curricular and co-curricular initiatives. It’s outstanding what a fabulous group of staff and faculty we have, all tremendously hard working and committed, and doing really wonderful things.”
Professor Gretchen Kerr addressing the crowd
Below is the full list of faculty and staff awarded for their initiatives and accomplishments over the 2015-16 academic year.
Research Awards and Recognition
David Frost, Assistant Professor – Liberty Mutual Award 2016
Marius Locke, Associate Professor – The Cell Stress Society International Fellow
Catherine Sabiston, Associate Professor – William E. Rawls Prize, Canadian Cancer Society
Athletic Staff Awards and Recognition
COACH OF THE YEAR
Kristine Drakich – Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Overall Coach of the Year
OUA INDIVIDUAL SPORT COACH OF THE YEAR
Byron MacDonald – Woman’s Swimming
Linda Kiefer – Women’s Swimming
John Barrett – Men’s Volleyball
Krstine Drakich – Women’s Volleyball
CANADIAN INTERUNIVERSITY SPORT (CIS) COACH OF THE YEAR
Byron MacDonald – Men’s and Women’s Swimming
Linda Kiefer – Men’s and Women’s Swimming
Carl Georgevski – Women’s Track and Field
BANNER WINNING VARSITY COACHES
2015-16 ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS (OUA) CHAMPIONS
Nabil Tadros – Men’s Tennis
Chris Tortorice and Dave Woods – Women’s Golf
John DeSouza – Field Hockey
George Gross – Women’s Water Polo
Ashley Hui – Figure Skating
Thomas Nguyen – Men’s Fencing
Byron MacDonald and Linda Kiefer – Men’s Swimming
Byron MacDonald and Linda Kiefer – Women’s Swimming
Stephane Cadiexu – Badminton
Kristine Drakich – Women’s Volleyball
2015-16 CANADIAN INTERUNIVERSITY SPORT (CIS) CHAMPIONS
Byron MacDonald and Linda Kiefer – Men’s Swimming
Byron MacDonald and Linda Kiefer – Women’s Swimming
Carl Georgevski and Jill Mallon – Women’s Track and Field
Kristine Drakich – Women’s Volleyball
NAMED TO THE 2016 RIO OLYMPIC GAMES COACHING STAFF
Linda Keifer, Aquatics Coach
CHAMP (CELEBRATING AND HONOURING ACHIEVEMENTS IN EVENT MANAGEMENT, MARKETING AND PROMOTION) AWARD
BEST HIGH PERFORMANCE (WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL)
Kevin Sousa – Coordinator, Events
Courtney Frappier – Assistant Facility Manager, Arena & Stadium
Jill Clark – Coordinator, Sports Information
Ivan Canete – Coordinator, Marketing & Promotions
Gareth Jasper – Senior Broadcast & Audio Visual Coordinator
Katherine Davies – Assistant Manager, Merchandise, Apparel & Ticketing Sales
Leila Trei – Coordinator, Community Partnerships & Outreach Activation
Duc Goi – Assistant Facility Manager, Arena & Stadium
BEST COMPETITIVE CHAMPIONSHIP (FIGURE SKATING)
Nick Snow – Assistant Manager, Blue & White, Clubs & Tri-Campus Sport
Cam Bernier – Assistant, Events
Ivan Canete – Coordinator, Marketing & Promotions
Ian Stephen – Assistant Facility Manager, Varsity Centre
Dave Wakabayashi – Assistant Facility Manager, Varsity Centre
Dave Ridge – Broadcast & Audio Visual Coordinator
Derek Row – Assistant Facility Manager
KPE Integration Award
Caroline Fusco - Associate Professor
Amanda DiLisio - graduate student
KPE Award of Excellence in Teaching
Michael Atkinson – Professor and Acting Vice-Dean, Academic Affairs
KPE Staff Awards and Recognition
KPE STAFF AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 2015-2016
Beth Ali – Acting Assistant Dean, Co-Curricular Physical Activity and Sport and Director of Intercollegiate and High Performance Sport
Kay Dawkins – Manager, Physical Activity
Jennifer Jung – Senior Finance Officer
Aaron Lane – Computing Support Analyst
Jen Leake – Acting Director, Physical Activity and Equity, and formerly Manager, Children and Youth
Janice MacDonald – Payroll Officer
ATHLETIC INSTRUCTION RECOGNITION
Barb Brophey, Senior Athletic Instructor, Gymnastics
University of Toronto and External Awards and Recognitions
U OF T EXCELLENCE THROUGH INNOVATION AWARDS (2016)
Alex Vickers, Facility Manager, Athletic Centre – The Change Room Project
Chris Dickins, Facility Manager, Varsity Centre – The Change Room Project
Jill Cressy, Assistant Manager, Fitness and Instruction – Mindful Moments
Sarah Baker, Director, Public Relations and Communications – U of T House: PanAm/ParapanAm Games
Susan Ivimey, Executive Assistant, Co-Curricular Physical Activity and Sport – U of T House: PanAm/ParapanAm Games
Andy MacDonald, Director of Facilities – U of T House: Pan Am/ParapanAm Games
CANADIAN COUNCIL FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION GOLD PRIX D’EXCELLENCE 2015
Rachel Keeling, Manager, Alumni Relations and Advancement Campaign – Best Development Event for Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport’s Opening Events
FACULTY OF MEDICINE STAFF IMPACT AWARD
Katie Babcock, Communication Specialist – Quality Improvement Team Award for her innovative work on the team behind the Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Graduate Recruitment Strategy using an integrated communications approach
STATE FARM EXSIT TO ASSIST
Nick Snow, Assistant Manager, Blue and White, Clubs and Tri-Campus Sports – Community Basketball
Outstanding Casual Employee Award
Olivia Allen, mentor coach, Gymnastics; Physical Literacy; U Can Move; Summer Camp – Children and Youth portfolio
Sasha Dipnarine, Varsity Pavilion monitor – Customer and Membership Services
Sarita Patel, Sports Media Operator – Information Technology and Audio Visual Services
Sarah Teixeira, Strength and Conditioning Attendant, SCC Supervisor – Physical Activity and Equity
Alanna Veerman, Strength and Conditioning Lead for Experiential Learning Opportunities – Intercollegiate Program
Years of Service, Retirements
Marie Dearden – Coordinator, Co-Curricular Physical Activity and Equity Administration
John De Nardis – Athletic Facility Assistant, Athletic Centre
Linda Chow – Student Services and Registrarial Assistant
Douglas Richards – Medical Director, David L. MachIntosh Sport, Medicine Clinic and Assistant Professor
Scott Thomas – Professor and Director, Master of Professional Kinesiology Program
Ian Cohen – Sport Physician, David L. MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic
Margaret MacNeill – Associate Professor
Anne Zavaros – Assistant Manager, Athletic Centre Facility
Dena Taylor - Associate Professor, Teaching Stream and Director, Health Sciences Writing Centre
Rudy Won - Athletic Facility Assistant, Athletic Centre
Robbie Semmens – Athletic Facility Assistant, Athletic Centre
Randy Weldon – Assistant Facility Manager, Varsity Centre