Celebrating the people who bring Waterloo’s values to life
Know someone who stands out?
Nominate a colleague or team by sharing a quick quote.
Recent recognition
"As an administrative officer, Jennifer Peng is a true team builder who supports individual growth, is compassionate, fosters collaboration, drives innovative student recruitment, and purposefully streamlines and improves departmental processes.
Nicola Kelly
"Erica Refling embodies acting with purpose & working together. She listens actively, always offers thoughtful support & asks the right questions to let ideas grow to action. She balances care & drive in a motivating way. We’re lucky to have her!"
Molly Fernhill
"Kelly Heald is so kind, patient and knowledgeable. She always makes time for our team when we have questions. She sees outside of the box and always puts the students first. We appreciate you, Kelly!"
Kim Tremblay
"Tanya Pompilio consistently demonstrates our workplace values through her reliability, collaboration, and willingness to help wherever needed. Her contributions make a real difference in keeping things running smoothly!
Nupur Nupur
"The International Agreements team has worked with Evan Taylor on multiple complex negotiations with a wide variety of international partners and stakeholders. His advice and capable nature make him one of our favourite people to work with on campus."
Eric Jardin
"Rui Tome embodies the 'Work Together' values - He leads with compassion, supports his team through hands on training, maintains equipment for the custodial group and drives everyday efficiency so everyone can succeed together."
Amanda Lockhart
"Through her work, Amanda St. Marie advances reconciliation by centering Indigenous voices, building strong partnerships, and creating meaningful impact across the faculty and beyond. I am so glad to be able to work in collaboration with Amanda!"
Savannah Sloat
"Sarah Fischer has been a great addition to our team. EGSO is so lucky to have her and I just want to say thank you, Sarah for helping me out so much lately. You are awesome!"
Janine Blair
"Lindsey Webster is an awesome manager who is kind and understanding. She is a pleasure to work with and makes working at UW a wonderful experience!"
Hannah Clyde
"Reem Tawfik consistently brings a collaborative mindset and helps create a positive, inclusive working environment. She approaches teamwork with openness and respect, making it easy for others to contribute and succeed together."
Brandon Yong
"Christina Mancini goes above and beyond to help scheduling representatives learn the skills to create a class schedule and creates helpful resources and references. Her kind and supportive nature help foster a collaborative learning environment."
Claire Newbigging
"Bryan Olive demonstrates UW Values by fostering collaboration and teamwork to achieve shared goals. He leads a resourceful, responsive team, seeks solutions, takes a forward-looking approach, and is approachable and valued across the unit."
Joe Henhoeffer
"The leadership and management Melissa Potwarka provides in campus wellness through the Be you program and dedication to advancing the idea that issues of equity and inclusion are intertwined with wellness require acknowledgment from her peers!"
Anonymous
"Rhys Gwynne exemplifies UW’s values through hard work, kindness, and genuine care for faculty, staff, and students. Leading a largely soft-funded lab during UW's financial challenges, he models resilient, compassionate leadership, and excellence."
Michael Makahnouk
"Robin Jardin embodies UW values in every interaction with colleagues across campus and with the Engineering students she supports. She has earned respect and trust, acts with patience and selfless commitment to nurture a thriving community."
Mary Robinson
"I'd like to recognize Marisa Buettel for stepping in to being our Interim Manager in MME. Her positive leadership, caring nature has helped our team stay organized, focused, prioritizing our tasks at hand. She has strengthened our UG team moral."
Liz Skibicki
"Perpetually generous with his time and talent, Prof. Andrew Hunt's steady hand with group leadership is matched only by his deep compassion and concern for everyone at UW (and beyond). Andrew exemplifies constructiveness and positivity at their finest"
Dylan Cyr
"Gail Spencer for her dedicated advocacy for the University of Waterloo community. She is a compassionate listener, a trusted voice, and a tireless supporter who empowers others with fairness, integrity, and care."
Abate Mergia
"Mary Power, a consummate connector/collaborator, supports "her people" ten-fold! With enhancing student learning in mind, she guides her team & instructors with evidence-based, outside-the-box thinking resulting in key institutional solutions."
Jason Thompson
"Chris Voutsis truly exemplified Think Differently when facing tough vendor issues. Rather than waiting for vendor fixes that're not timely or practical, he thought creatively with custom solutions, with outstanding drive and determination!"
Linda Zhang
"Eric Jardin consistently conducts himself with compassion and understanding. He actively builds meaningful relationships with stakeholders across campus and around the world. His care for the Waterloo community is exemplified in all he does."
Sabrina Kha
"Jen Lehman will step into any breach to strengthen the Department of Biology in pursuit of our common vision. Her support of faculty, students & staff helps us act as an integrative force in research and teaching. She really shows up for us all!"
Rebecca Rooney
"Susie Castela thinks differently to find unique solutions to complicated administrative problems, acts with purpose to ensure staff and faculty success despite their many incursions on her work, and her sunny disposition sets a working together tone."
Derek Robinson
"Jacque Bailey is a shining star in the graduate admissions world. She is always thinking of ways to improve our processes, asks great questions, and has been putting in extra time as we learn to do more with less. Thank you Jacque!"
Stephanie Forsyth
"Kira Youngblut manages two departments. Despite a workload fit for two, she acts with dedication and purpose, pitching in everywhere and ensuring our students feel welcome and heard. She gives her best every day and treats everyone with respect.."
James Skidmore / Monica Leoni
"Stephanie Forsyth exemplifies Waterloo’s values through collaborative, purposeful work in GSPA Admissions, supporting faculties and departments by grounding them in admissions processes and guiding them through the new system with clarity and patience."
Maha Eid
"Caity Dyck consistently puts our values into practice in her role. She is a natural collaborator and creative problem-solver. She celebrates our students and academics with pride and meaningful and experienced intention."
Kerri Behling
"Sarah Landy goes above and beyond her core responsibilities to ensure operations run smoothly, often taking on additional tasks without hesitation. Her proactive approach and reliability make her an essential part of SYDE and its success."
Bisan Samara
"Tracy Ranville is a great team player. She also shows commitment to the students—always ready to help when a student contacts the office by phone/email and ensures their concerns/inquiries are handled thoroughly and professionally.."
Monika Strome
"As Managing Director of the FCI, Eryn Stewart consistently demonstrates these values. Working with communities across Canada, she has brought in dozens of projects for the i-capstone, and many thousands of dollars in student sponsorship as well."
Leia Minaker
"Robert Case exemplifies thinking differently through interdisciplinary work, acts with purpose via advocacy and leadership at the University of Waterloo, and works together through community collaboration and RAAS involvement."
Robert Case
"Emma Pavlovich’s contributions to WatSPEED are a perfect example of collaborative team spirit. She crafts the storytelling that elevates the impact of others and helps us shine, and deserves to recognized as a star herself.."
Melanie Hains
"Elysia Gallinaro fosters a supportive and inclusive team environment through thoughtful leadership and clear guidance. Her ability to stay calm, approachable, and solution-focused makes a meaningful difference in the team's success."
Nupur Nupur
"Boon Khoo exemplifies the Working Together value through a consultative & collegial approach. Sharing knowledge, navigating complex graduate cases, and caring deeply for students as whole people while modeling trust and teamwork for colleagues."
Marianne Simm
"Sarah de Waal embodies the value of "working together". She steps up to fill gaps, supports others without complaint, and brings warmth and positivity to every collaboration. I genuinely don’t know how she does it so effortlessly."
Erika Mutimura
"Research Security team (OVPRI) led by Justin Nankivell and Steven Holland, are knowledgeable, professional, timely, and hilarious to work with. In short, meaningful conversations with people who make Waterloo a great place to work."
Eric Jardin
"Dr. Matt Borland for his approach to challenging the status quo of engineering education, his radical commitment to ethics grounded in a deep drive to create more compassionate community, and bridging the gap between engineering and creative expression."
Elaheh Sanoubari
"Chris Rennick is the “we can do it” kind of individual. His door is always open. He has the talent and ability to think out of the box. Problem solver. He has the ability to empower those who work with him."
Reem Roufail
"Marisa Buettel embodies what a leader is. She is absolutely dedicated to getting our students the best outcome, and making sure my colleagues and I are supported in all of our endeavors. She deserves all the praise and recognition!"
Lisa McCarthy
"Donna Lutz thinks differently and works tirelessly to make the MUO resilient to anything thrown our way. She works with purpose to raise the level of service to the Faculty and students. She exemplifies the value of working together in all she does."
Benoit Charbonneau
"The Research Ethics and Animal Care teams demonstrate the power of working together. Their commitment, care, and collaborative spirit support student learning as well as faculty to advance research that will shape a better future for us all."
Julie Joza
"Elysia Gallinaro thinks differently by actively listening and recognizing each person’s strengths. She acts with purpose by developing talent and supporting high performance, and works together to build a cohesive, empowered team."
Tanya Pompilio
"Carly Turnbull, Associate Director, Global Futures approaches all of her activities with deep purpose. This ensures connectivity to our long-term, institutional goals."
Fayaz Noormohamed
"Madeleine Noble exemplifies “Act with Purpose” by turning vision into impact. Maddy led the creation of exceptional work-integrated learning in exercise physiology, advancing curriculum and transforming student engagement. Thank you Madeleine!"
Steven Fischer
"Jennifer Halcrow has championed bold, creative ideas long before “thinking differently” became a formal University value. She brings fresh perspectives to her work, continually finding new and meaningful ways to communicate with students."
Jenn Willoughby
"As an Administrative Officer, Jennifer Shousterman consistently demonstrates curiosity and innovation. She ensures that her work is reflective of unconventional and bold ideas, and is eager to share her leadership. Truly a fantastic colleague."
Jenny Flagler-George
"Tara De Souza consistently looks at the way we've always done things with an eye on how we can do better. I am inspired by her vision to create a more sustainable campus, and happy to work with her in collaborations that are shifting campus culture."
Megan McGarry
"Stephanie Longeway led strategic communications for the 2026 Global Futures Innovation Update, collaborating with researchers, students, alumni, and campus partners to showcase stories connecting game-changing initiatives to real-world impact."
Kerry Stryker
"Megan McGarry, Brandon Sweet, and Valerie Vaz drive Waterloo’s internal communications—sharing their strategic insights and creativity to inform and connect our community. Thank you for your essential contributions and supporting "One Waterloo."
Kathy Smidt
Nominate a colleague or team
What happens next
1
Featured on this webpage
2
Recognized in the Daily Bulletin
3
Entered into a termly draw for a W Store gift card
Questions?
Please reach out to communications@uwaterloo.ca.