The 2023 Faculty of Health Graduate Mentorship Award recipients are: 

Jason Au

Dr. Jason Au (Kinesiology and Health Sciences), recipient of the Emerging Graduate Mentorship Award 

“Not only am I honoured to receive this Graduate Mentorship Award, I am thankful to have such wonderful mentees who push me to grow as a mentor and scientist by bringing their best to their research every day."

Karla Boluk

Dr. Karla Boluk (Recreation and Leisure Studies), recipient of the Mid-career Graduate Mentorship Award 

"I enjoy mentoring my students in research design and analysis and see this as a critical role in our work as professors, but just as important is building relationships with students, supporting them outside of their studies and helping them build their networks."

Heather Mair

Dr. Heather Mair (Recreation and Leisure Studies), recipient of the Senior Graduate Mentorship Award 

“Supervising graduate students is the most rewarding part of my job. I love seeing the spark of light when they land on a project that means something to them. I most enjoy opportunities to learn and to be challenged together.“ 

Since 2020, the Faculty has highlighted faculty members who have made a meaningful impact in the mentorship of graduate students through the Graduate Mentorship Awards. 

The award criteria include fostering students’ skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, self-directed learning and communication, commitment to students’ personal and professional development, effective research planning, and providing a supportive environment that stimulates creativity, debate, engagement and progression toward career goals. 

A plaque will be established in the Burt Matthews Hall (BMH) foyer with engraved nameplates for this year’s award recipients, including the inaugural 2020 recipients: Michaela Devries-Aboud (Kinesiology and Health Sciences) and Katie Misener (Recreation and Leisure Studies), as well as the 2021 recipients: Kim Lopez (Recreation and Leisure Studies), Mark Ferro (School of Public Health Sciences) and John Hirdes (School of Public Health Sciences).