Celebrating staff and faculty

The Office of the Dean of Students oversees two awards for staff and faculty that recognize their important contributions to students' success.

Forces AVENIR Committed Staff Member Award

Applications for 2026 are closed.

About the Award

The Committed Staff Member Award recognizes a member of staff who, outside the context of a course or research program, is involved with students who are engaged in community actions, here or elsewhere in the world. The category recognizes a member of staff whose engagement has had an impact on the educational institution’s mission and the development of more socially-conscious, responsible, active, and persevering citizens. Recipients will have distinguished themselves by their ability to inspire engagement among both students and community members. 

Eligibility 

  • Must be a member of staff at 91ɬ university
  • Must not not be a former recipient of a Forces AVENIR award 

Applying

Interested staff members can open an application on the. 

The application includes: 

  • A 250-word summary of the candidate’s career path, engagements, and qualities as a citizen
  • A 200-word essay for each selection criterion (criterion available on FA application portal)
  • A detailed curriculum vitae
  • Ten colour photographs of the candidate demonstrating their engagement 

Please email the Office of the Dean of Students at deanofstudents [at] mcgill.ca (deanofstudents[at]mcgill[dot]ca) if you have any questions.

Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising

Applications for 2026 are closed.

About the Award

The Dean of Students Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising was established in collaboration with the ESAAC Subcommittee on Undergraduate Student Advising (SUSA) in January 2015. The award recognizes the integral and valuable contribution that academic advising makes to undergraduate student life at 91ɬ.

Advisors provide timely and accurate guidance to students, assisting them in making informed academic choices in light of their learning, career, and life goals. Advisors provide coherent information about University regulations and program requirements, and work, as appropriate, with other University services and resources.  Evidence of excellence in the role of undergraduate academic advisor may be demonstrated through specific examples of the nominee’s recent achievements in advising support to students, service to or involvement in the University and advising communities, and/or innovative approaches to the role of academic advisor.

Eligibility

  • All job categories are eligible.
  • For the purposes of this award, the definition of undergraduate academic advisor is broad and inclusive.  
  • Nominees should have a significant and recognized role in academic advising that guides students in the completion of their programs through to graduation and in which they are wholly accountable for the advice they dispense.
  • Any academic or administrative staff member whose position includes a significant academic advising role in which they are authorized to deliver advising on academic issues to undergraduate students may be nominated for this award, regardless of whether the term “advisor” is in their official job title.  This includes, but is not limited to, Faculty advisors, Department or School advisors, program administrators and student affairs officers or coordinators, provided that one of their main roles is undergraduate academic advising.

Nominations

Two (2) letters of support (500-word limit) for the nominee are required. Anyone with knowledge of the advisor’s work may write a letter of support including the nominator(s), a student, a colleague, or a supervisor. Nominations that include a Letter of Support from a student or group of students are strongly encouraged.  

Letters should go beyond personal experience (if possible) and include the capacity in which the letter-writer has known the nominee, a description of the significant advising role of the nominee, and an explanation of how the nominee has demonstrated excellence in their role as an undergraduate academic advisor.

Nominees will be notified, nominations made public, and winners announced in May.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to deanofstudents [at] mcgill.ca (deanofstudents[at]mcgill[dot]ca)

Previous winners
2026

Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising 

Winners

Anna Dinolfo

Jacob Levy 

Nancy Nelson

Predrag Sunjka


Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising

Nominees

Tabitha Beedle

Elizabeth Lefebvre

Marina Saunders

Ines Scharnweber

2024

Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising 

Winners

Adelina Lameiras

David Wees

2022

Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising

Winners

Paul Olioff

Curtis Sharman

2021

Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising 

Winners

Samuel Sewall 

Nellie Voudouris


Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising

Nominees

Nada Abu-Merhy

Ryan Bouma

Rolando Del Maestro

Vanessa Hansen

Brandy Jugandi

Paul Olioff

Giosina Rota

Curtis Sharman

Wendy Somerville

Lisa Stanischewski

Rhonda Turner

2020

Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising

Winners

Chantal Grignon

Lyudmila Parts


Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising

Nominees

Nada Abu-Merhy

Ryan Bouma

Romantha Descartes

Allan Hepburn

Elizabeth Lefebvre

Giosina Rota

Sophie Roy-Lafleur

Olivia Sanalitro

Kevin Schwartzman

Nellie Voudouris

2019

Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising 

Winners

Jane Hawes 

Michelle Maillet


Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising 

Nominees

Arts OASIS Advising Staff

Marlene Brettler

Andy Catalano

Lesley Morin

2018

Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising 

Winners

Alice Cherestes 

Teresa Zatylny 


Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising 

Nominees

Mathieu Blanchette

Angela Blasi

Jane Hawes

Michelle Maillet

William Minarik

Lesley Morin

Nancy Nelson

Giosina Rota

Vanessa Smith

2017

Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising 

Winners

Mary Lanni-Campoli 

Kathy Roulet 


Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising 

Nominees

Anna Berman

Ryan Bouma

Giulia Campofredano

Paola Carvajal

Vittoria Catania

Alice Cherestes

Nancy Czemmel

Sabrina Fanelli

Chantal Grignon

Michelle Maillet

Vanessa Morelli

Sonia Viselli

Teresa Zatylny

2016

Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising 

Winners

Ruth Kuzaitis

Lia Sanzone 

 


Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising 

Nominees

Nada Abu-Merhy

Pete Barry

Vittoria Catania

Alice Cherestes

Benoit Cousineau

Ronald Critchley

Egidia DeMichele

Christopher Green

Chantal Grignon

Robert Guirguis

Miranda Hickman

Kate Hooton

Mary Lanni-Campoli

Della Maharajh

Julie Major

Prema Menon

Claire Michela

Nancy Nelson

Paul Olioff

Dirk Schlimm

Samuel Sewall

Joanne Terrasi

Sonia Viselli

Nellie Voudouris

If you are feeling distressed or are concerned about someone you know and you would like to connect to a case manager for support, please email deanofstudents [at] mcgill.ca (deanofstudents[at]mcgill[dot]ca).

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