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 are currently 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 ĢƵ 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 are currently 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 aims to recognize the integral and valuable contribution that academic advising makes to undergraduate student life at ĢƵ.

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.

Applying

Please submit two (2) letters of support (500-word limit) for the nominee, along with a . 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.  

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
2024

Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising 

Winners

David Wees

Adelina Lameiras

2022

Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising

Winners

Curtis Sharman

Paul Olioff

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

Giosina Rota

Rolando Del Maestro

Vanessa Hansen

Wendy Somerville

Brandy Jugandi

Curtis Sharman

Lisa Stanischewski

Paul Olioff

Rhonda Turner

2020

Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising

Winners

Lyudmila Parts

Chantal Grignon


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

Andy Catalano

Arts OASIS Advising Staff

Lesley Morin

Marlene Brettler

2018

Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising 

Winners

Alice Cherestes (Academic Staff)
Teresa Zatylny (Administrative Staff)


Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising 

Nominees

Academic Staff

Mathieu Blanchette

William Minarik

Administrative Staff

Angela Blasi

Giosina Rota

Jane Hawes

Lesley Morin

Michelle Maillet

Nancy Nelson

Vanessa Smith

2017

Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising 

Winners

Kathy Roulet (Academic Staff)
Mary Lanni-Campoli (Administrative Staff)


Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising 

Nominees

Academic Staff

Anna Berman

Paola Carvajal
Alice Cherestes

Administrative Staff

Ryan Bouma

Giulia Campofredano

Vittoria Catania

Nancy Czemmel

Sabrina Fanelli

Chantal Grignon

Michelle Maillet

Vanessa Morelli

Sonia Viselli

Teresa Zatylny

2016

Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising 

Winners

Lia Sanzone (Academic Staff)
Ruth Kuzaitis (Administrative Staff)


Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising 

Nominees

Academic Staff

Pete Barry

Alice Cherestes

Benoit Cousineau
Christopher Green
Miranda Hickman
Julie Major

Dirk Schlimm
Samuel Sewall

Administrative Staff

Nada Abu-Merhy

Vittoria Catania

Ronald Critchley

Egidia DeMichele

Chantal Grignon

Robert Guirguis

Kate Hooton

Mary Lanni-Campoli

Della Maharajh

Prema Menon

Claire Michela

Nancy Nelson

Paul Olioff

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).

If you or someone else are in immediate danger, please call 911.