Celebrating employee excellence

OCAD U employees gathered at Onsite Gallery on October 22 to recognize the recipients of the Employee Excellence Awards and to celebrate the long service and commitment by several employees – all from the non-teaching staff. This year, the event was also livestreamed.

Eight employees were recognized for their long service, including Library Technician Sasha Brock who has been with the University for 25 years. 

15 Years of Service

• Emily Gowan, Manager, Studio Services 
• Nick Hooper, Director, Facilities and Studio Services 
• James Morrow, Manager, Faculty of Art 

20 Years of Service

• Charlene James, Senior Accountant, Treasury and Financial Services 
• Andrew McAllister, Director, Academic Computing and Innovation, 
• Stevan Plavsa, Manager, Strategic Planning and Technology Deployment
• Oliver Valencia, Student Advisor 

25 Years of Service

• Sascha Brock, Library Technician, Technical Services

2004 EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Photo above: Employee Excellence Award recipients: At left, top: Susan Jama, Employee Equity Award; at left, middle: President Ana Serrano with Employee Excellence Award recipients Lisa Deanne Smith and Christopher Darby; at left, bottom: Gerald Grison, Christine Crosbie Heart of Gold. At right, Members of the Admissions and Recruitment team, Team Excellence Award, back row, left to right: Stephanie Mowat, Javier Machado, Meichen Waxer, Deanne Fisher (Vice-Provost, Students and International) who presented the award, Sean Baker and Donald Kelly. Front row, left to right: Samantha Bertam, Maryanne Casasanta, Carol Rodriguez Allende, Mary Anne Garcia and President Ana Serrano.

Award for Employee Excellence

This annual award recognizes the outstanding contributions to the University by a non-teaching employee. There were two recipients for this year’s award: Christopher Darby, Manager, Facilities Maintenance and Lisa Deanne Smith, Senior Curator, Onsite Gallery and Manager, Galleries System.

Chris was described as one of OCAD U’s unsung heroes who works tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring that the campus remains a functional, inviting and comfortable place for community members and visitors. For more than a decade, he has been the person we rely on to keep our buildings running smoothly.  From repairing broken fixtures to managing emergency situations in the middle of the night, he is always there to respond. His commitment to OCAD U goes above and beyond, and though much of what he does is behind the scenes, the impact of his efforts is felt by all of us every day. 

Through her contributions to Onsite and OCAD U, Lisa embodies the spirit of excellence and dedication. With an 18-year history at Onsite Gallery, Lisa’s impact extends far beyond the walls of the gallery. For example, she collaborates closely with faculty to bridge the gap between educational experiences and gallery programming, offering a rich synergy that enhances the learning outcomes for students.

Her authentic rapport with alumni, donors and visitors helps foster important relationships that elevate the reputation of both Onsite and OCAD University. Lisa also nurtures the careers of countless students through mentorship, workshops and experiential learning opportunities. Lisa also nurtures the careers of countless students through mentorship, workshops and experiential learning opporutnities.

Her leadership is characterized by care, patience and a deep understanding of the gallery’s history and renewed vision, all of which contribute significantly to its stability and growth.

Congratulations to the nominees:

Josh Avery, Permanent Technician, Studio Services; Kristi Chen, Contract Technician, Studio Services; Angela Del Buono, Permanent Technician, Studio Services; Aleena Derohanian, Coordinator, Studio Sales and Services, Studio Services; Hannah Dickson, Gallery, Events and Studio Coordinator, School of Graduate Studies; Heather Evelyn, Coordinator, Learning Zone, Library Services; Raymond Fong, Permanent Technician, Studio Services; Emily Gowan, Manager, Studio Services; Nick Hooper, Director, Facilities and Studio Services; Amy Jung, Manager, Faculty of Arts and Science; Daniela Lee-Kim, Coordinator, International Experience and Exchange Programs, Student Affairs; Crystal Melville, Public Funding Specialist, Government Relations and Public Policy; Tracey Prehay, Manager, Operations, RBC CEAD: Les Seaforth, Help Desk Support Coordinator (Laptop), Helpdesk and AV Support; Domenic Sgambelluri, Coordinator, Studio Services; Joginder Singh, Contract Technician, Studio Services; Loanne Tran, Plastic Studio Class Assistant; Chris Wiggs, User Experience Design Lead, Marketing and Communications; and Madge Yao, Coordinator, Special Projects, Faculty of Arts Office.

Employee Equity Award

This year, the award was presented to two employees for their significant contributions in fostering an inclusive, equitable, and diverse learning and work environment within our community: Susan Jama, Programs and Community Coordinator at Onsite Gallery and Jennie Suddick, Manager of International Programs and Collaboration on Student Affairs.

In her role at Onsite Gallery, Susan focuses on creating meaningful and accessible programming that complements the gallery’s exhibitions, reflecting diverse creative practices in art, design and curatorial work. She develops innovative programs that target under-represented communities, including organizing an Indigenous, Black and People of Colour artist panel for each exhibition to address issues relevant to equity-seeking communities. 

Susan also recruits and mentors about 25 student monitors each year, recognizing and developing their strengths while encouraging interdisciplinary skills. Her inclusive approach ensures that students are empowered to find meaningful roles within the gallery, enhancing their personal and professional growth. 

Over the past five years, Jennie has built the International Programs and Collaboration office from the ground up, embedding principles of equity, diversity and decolonization into every initiative.

Jennie’s commitment is demonstrated by her remarkable success in securing more than $600,000 in funding to directly support students from diverse backgrounds, including students who are Indigenous, Black and People of Colour.

By leading conversations on equity in post-secondary education, Jennie not only advances OCAD U’s goals but also inspires other institutions worldwide to adopt inclusive practices. 

Congratulations to the nominees:

Scott Johns, Assistant University Librarian; Orus Mateo Castaño-Suárez, Graduate Student Experience and IQAP Assistant, School of Graduate Studies Office; Carol Rodriguez Allende, Coordinator, Visitor Experience and Special Events, Admissions and Recruitment; and Laura Thrasher, Educational Developer, Faculty and Curriculum Development Centre.

Christine Crosbie Heart of Gold Award

This award was established in 2020 to honour the memory of Christine Crosbie who was a valued colleague and member of the Marketing and Communications team. She was well-known for her generous and collaborative spirit, professionalism and passion for excellence as Manager of Communications and Media at OCAD U.

This year, the award was presented to Gerald Grison, Integrated Media Technician in Studio Services. In addition to being a technician in the Integrated Media program, he serves Sculpture and Installation, Life Studies and Experimental Animation programs and consistently goes above and beyond to support teaching, curricular delivery and technical upgrades.

Gerald approaches every task with enthusiasm and dedication, earning the respect, admiration and deep affection of his colleagues and students. He is a collaborative and supportive individual who is always ready to assist faculty and students and who tirelessly advocates for students, ensuring that their creative visions can be realized safely. 

Congratulations to the nominees:

Andrew Atkin, Probationary Technician, Studio Services; Sean Baker, Director, Learning Pathways, Admissions and Recruitment; Elizabeth Clydesdale, Academic Governance and Completion Coordinator, School of Graduate Studies; Tej Dhanoya, Programs, Outreach and Human Rights Advisor, ODESI; Rebecca Diederichs, Writing and Learning Consultant, Writing and Learning Centre; Joel Moffet, Permanent Technician, Studio Services; Charles Rocchi, Records Analyst, Office of the Registrar; Nashwa Salem, Associate Registrar, Student Advising and Special Projects, Office of the Registrar; Domenic Sgambelluri, Coordinator, Studio Services; and Sandy Soud, Coordinator, Circulation and Access Services, Library Services.

Advancing Excellence Team Award

This year’s recipient is the Admissions and Recruitment Team whose dedication, creativity and collaborative spirit have been instrumental in advancing the University’s mission. 

The Admissions and Recruitment team plays a critical role in shaping the student experience at OCAD U, from attracting and welcoming new students to supporting them throughout their time here. While each team member is unique and contributes something special, their ability to work seamlessly together exemplifies the power of teamwork. Together, they go above and beyond to prioritize the University's goals, always striving to make OCAD U a welcoming and supportive place for students.

The members of the Admissions and Recruitment team are: Sean Baker, Director, Learning Pathways; Samantha Bertram, Advisor, Admissions; Maryanne Casasanta, Interim Manager, Student Recruitment; Sierra da Silva-Canadien, Coordinator, Indigenous Admissions & Recruitment Support; Mary Anne Garcia, Lead, National Student Recruitment; Donald Kelly, Director, Admissions; Mark Julien, Assistant, Upper Year Admissions; Javier Machado, Manager Business Strategy; Stephanie Mowat, Advisor, Admissions; Gary Newman, Community Outreach Advisor; Hau Pham, Coordinator, Workshops and Events; Carol Rodriguez Allende, Coordinator, Visitor Experience and Special Events; Leiko Shimizu, Senior Admissions and Transfer Officer; Winna Tse, Communications and Projects Specialist; and Meichen Waxer, Program Development Specialist. 

Congratulations to the nominees:

Adrew Atkin and Loanne Tran; Project Prism and the Writing and Learning Centre.

Pictured below: Long-service recognition awards were given to Sascha Brock, pictured at left, with Kerry-Ann Douglas-Powell, Director, Workplace Culture; Nick Hooper, pictured at top right, with Kerry-Ann Douglas-Powell; Andrew McAllister, pictured at middle left,with Kerry-Ann Douglas-Powell; Stevan Plasva, pictured at middle right, with Kerry-Ann Douglas-Powell and Emily Gowan, pictured bottom right, with Kerry-Ann Douglas-Powell.