The Faculty of Environment's annual awards recognize faculty and staff who embody the spirit of our vision 'with the world, for the world' through their contributions to teaching, research and service.
Congratulations to our recent winners
Faculty Research Award
Dr. Andrea Collins is a feminist scholar of global environmental governance at SERS, whose research examines how gender shapes the politics of land, food, and agriculture. Over the past two years, she has published a sole-authored book with McGill-Queen's University Press, secured a SSHRC Insight Grant as Principal Investigator, and continued as Co-Investigator on a $2.5-million SSHRC Partnership Grant.
Her research has been cited in the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report and is assigned to graduate syllabi at institutions including The Graduate Institute Geneva and Queen's University. A dedicated academic citizen, she has served as Associate Editor of the Canadian Journal of Development Studies, examined PhD theses internationally, and now serves as SERS Associate Director, Graduate. In this role, she has been a steady and generous presence for graduate students across the Faculty, helping them navigate research and program challenges while advancing curriculum improvements that benefit the wider graduate community.
Faculty Research Award
Amr ElAlfy is a leading scholar in sustainability disclosure and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) issues, with a particular focus on non-financial reporting practices. His research explores the significance of sustainability risks and opportunities through a double materiality lens, connecting financial and non-financial metrics to aid decision-makers in promoting sustainable growth and responsible investment strategies.
His track record of applying for and winning competitive external grants from the Tri-Agencies and other funding agencies. At the same time, his record of refereed publications with colleagues and students stood out in the faculty for its breadth and depth. The impact of his work is reflected in the rapidly growing number of other scholars around the world who are citing his publications.
Faculty Service Award
Heather Hall is the Associate Director, Graduate Studies in the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED). Her contributions continue to strengthen SEED during a challenging period, improving the graduate student experience and fostering a more collaborative, supportive workplace.
As a member of the SEED leadership team, Heather led the transition from the qualifying exam to the comprehensive exam format and served as Interim Director during the director's absence. Her commitment to equity is reflected in her work to include Indigenous Knowledge Holders on graduate thesis committees. What distinguishes Heather most is the care she brings to every interaction, creating an environment where students, staff, and faculty feel heard, valued and supported.
Staff Service Award
Neil Carnegie is the Manager of Facilities and Space Planning/Safety Coordinator for the Faculty of Environment, serving as the connective tissue that holds a dynamic, multifaceted faculty together. Whether navigating space planning challenges, championing the Faculty's interests at the university level, or supporting student-led events, Neil shows up fully and always with heart.
His stewardship ensures the Faculty operates smoothly, with staff, faculty and students able to access the spaces they need. His participation in university-wide working groups gives the Faculty a strong voice in decisions on space, safety and infrastructure, while his hands-on support for student clubs has helped bring countless student visions to life. He also coordinates health and safety compliance across the Faculty and has lent his thoughtful, supportive engagement to projects carrying significant cultural and community importance. Students, staff and faculty alike seek him out because of the trust he has earned through consistent, generous support; approaching every interaction, from a nervous student club president to a colleague navigating a complex request, with genuine warmth and care.
Staff Service Award
Jennifer (Jenn) Nicholson has dedicated over 20 years of service to the university, primarily helping the Faculty of Environment run efficiently and effectively. Over the past year, she went above and beyond to help SEED through a period of considerable change, leading the hiring and training of five new staff amid substantial turnover, all while ensuring students and those outside the department barely noticed the disruption.
Jenn sits on multiple university-level committees, including the TA unionization transition committee and the ENV database development initiative with ETIS, contributing to operations and governance that benefit the university as a whole. Locally, she supervises six staff members while helping administer seven undergraduate and graduate programs, and fosters a positive workplace through staff and faculty social events. Beyond these formal responsibilities, she manages department operations with compassion, consistently looking out for the well-being of her staff and junior faculty.
Nomination process
It is the responsibility of the Faculty of Environment faculty and staff to nominate potential candidates for the award. They will be notified when to submit their nominations to the Faculty Awards Committee.
Criteria
| Teaching Award | Research Award | Service Award - Faculty Member | Service Award - Staff Member |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excellence in teaching, mentorship or educational development (35%) | Quality and quantity of research output (30%) | Leadership in building the university, Faculty or unit (40%) | Leadership in building the university, Faculty or unit (40%) |
| Positive impact on students or on education more broadly (35%) | Recognitions and evidence of impact/standing within the academy (30%) | Impact of service contributions, defined broadly (20%) | Impact of service contributions, defined broadly (20%) |
| Creation of an environment conducive to learning (15%) | Impact through knowledge mobilization and activities external to the academy (25%) | Diversity of service contributions (20%) | Diversity of service contributions (20%) |
| Innovation in teaching (15%) | Active participation as an academic citizen (e.g., refereeing, external examiner) (15%) | An ethos of caring in carrying out service duties (20%) | An ethos of caring in carrying out service duties (20%) |
The awards are:
- Awarded annually to recognize faculty and staff of the Faculty of Environment
- Based on recommendations to the Dean by a Faculty Awards Committee
- In addition to the “research excellence award” that is currently awarded each year to an early-career (pre-tenure) faculty member
Selection committee membership (5 in total):
2 faculty members including:
- One Faculty of Environment representative who serves on the University of Waterloo Awards Committee
- One previous winner of University of Waterloo’s Distinguished Teacher Award, elected, two-year term
2 staff members:
- one from Faculty-level offices/units, elected, two-year term
- one from the academic units, elected, two-year term
1 student in alternate years from:
- the Environment Student Society
- the Environment Graduate Student Association or the Graduate Planning Association
Selection committee responsibilities:
- To encourage the submission of high-quality nominations of Environment faculty and staff for both internal and external awards and honorific titles, and to do so through an equity, diversity and inclusivity lens
- To evaluate annual nominations for Faculty of Environment awards for faculty and staff in the areas of teaching, research and service, and make recommendations to the Dean of the Faculty with regards to the winning nomination in each category.
Past Award Recipients
