Organizing an eclipse party, reimagining the admissions process, supporting McGill’s academic mission: those are just some of the outstanding contributions made by the recipients of the 2023-24 President’s Awards for Administrative and Support Staff. Winners are being honoured for the quality of their work, service to the community, innovation and initiative.
This year’s winners are:
- John Bartczak, Laboratory Co-ordinator in the Faculty of Engineering
- Melanie Collins, Student Recruitment Supervisor at the Schulich School of Music
- Carolina Cruz-Vinaccia, Outreach Program Administrator in the Faculty of Science
- Jean Manseau, Station Engine Mechanic 4 in Facilities Management and Ancillary Services
- Learning Environments Team in Teaching and Learning Services
Here is why they won, according to their award citations:
John Bartczak
Technical/Library Assistants and Nurses category
John Bartczak is responsible for managing the Faculty of Engineering’s Jamieson Structures Laboratory, and does so with precision and unwavering dedication. He maintains special lab equipment and creates custom parts for new devices with a level of accuracy and precision that surpasses all expectations. John Bartczak regularly has a long line of students gathering outside his office – a testament to how much they trust, respect, and rely on his knowledge and expertise. His commitment to excellence enhances the lab’s efficiency, supporting students and faculty.
Melanie Collins
Management and Excluded category
In a year when McGill’s recruitment and admissions team faced unprecedented challenges due to the Quebec government’s tuition changes for out-of-province students, Melanie Collins was key in establishing new, sustainable recruitment strategies. The result was the Schulich School of Music’s largest incoming student cohort since 2016, despite approximately 40 per cent of Music students coming from Canadian provinces outside Quebec. Her ability to lead, establish meaningful connections and think outside the box have contributed significantly the School’s continued success.
Carolina Cruz-Vinaccia
Clerical category
This year’s solar eclipse may have brought darkness to Montreal, but it was Carolina Cruz-Vinaccia’s time to shine. As the person responsible for programming portfolio for the Trottier Space Institute and the Department of Physics, Cruz-Vinaccia expertly organizes events such as the annual Undergraduate Summer Program. But her signature accomplishment this year was spearheading McGill’s 2024 Solar Eclipse events, a resounding success that garnered international attention and brought over 10,000 people to McGill’s campuses. Cruz-Vinaccia’s flawless execution of this ambitious, once-in-a-lifetime event testifies to her extraordinary leadership, foresight and professionalism.
Jean Manseau
Trades and Services category
Jean Manseau has been part of McGill for 42 years, during which time he has played an integral role in maintaining the Macdonald Campus’s powerhouse, ensuring it remains in smooth operation. Whether he’s carrying out routine maintenance, responding or an urgent service call or generously volunteering his time to mentor and supervise student interns, he goes above and beyond, earning a reputation for upholding the highest standards of professionalism. His peers and supervisors regard him as an exemplary employee, a true asset to McGill.
The Learning Environments Team in Teaching and Learning Services
Team category
The eight exceptional members of on the Learning Environments team – Innovative, collaborative and highly skilled – are dedicated to providing McGill’s instructors, teaching assistants and students with the tools they need to ensure McGill continues to fulfill its academic mission to deliver excellence in teaching and learning. The team oversees 70 educational tools, and compiles 5,000 student evaluations and fields more than 3,000 inquiries annually; in the last year alone, team members launched 19 new educational tools.
The team’s members are:
- Hayagrish Balaji, Learning Technology Systems Analyst
- Rachel Hall, Manager, Learning Management Systems
- Jasmine Parent, Learning Technology Consultant
- Rodney Jean-Paul, Learning Technology Administrator
- Teddy Joseph Quintoro, Learning Technology Consultant
- Barbara Stechysin, Learning Technology Consultant
- Donna Wong, Learning Technology Systems Administrator
- Mariette Xenopoulos, Learning Technology Consultant
“Congratulations to all recipients on their outstanding achievements,” said Diana Dutton, Associate Vice-President of Human Resources. “This year’s honourees have made exceptional contributions to the University, and we so appreciate their talent, dedication and hard work.”
The awards will be conferred at the Fall 2024 Convocation ceremony Dec. 2.