U of T faculty, staff and students recognized with 2025 Awards of Excellence

The University of Toronto has announced the winners of the 2025 Awards of Excellence, presented annually in collaboration with the U of T Alumni Association (UTAA) to recognize outstanding and inspiring faculty, staff, librarians and students.

"Each of you has made an outstanding contribution to the University of Toronto community," said U of T President Meric Gertler in a video address to the recipients. "In so doing, you have set an inspiring example for our students, faculty, librarians and staff.

"As I near the end of my term as president, I can say that you and your predecessors are crucial to our collective success. Our Awards of Excellence winners have propelled us to even greater heights of excellence as Canada's leading university."

Faculty & Staff

Vivek Goel Faculty Citizenship Award

Reinhart Reithmeier – professor, Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Ludwik and Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize – Influential Leader

John Borrows – professor, Faculty of Law

Carolyn Tuohy Impact on Public Policy Award

Mayo Moran – professor, Faculty of Law

Joan E. Foley Quality of Student Experience Award

Elli Weisbaum – assistant professor (teaching stream), New College, Faculty of Arts & Science and department of psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Northrop Frye Award 

CFL e-Platform for Beginner French, department of language studies, U of T Scarborough

Snejina Sonina, assistant professor (teaching stream)

Matthew Lefaive, project coordinator

Beryl Tang, business officer

Jill Matus Award for Excellence In Student Services

Kimberly Elias-Cartwright – manager of strategic initiatives, Division of Student Life

Ryan Woolfrey – registrar, University College, Faculty of Arts & Science

Chancellor’s Leadership Award – Emerging Leader

Estelle Oliva-Fisher – Troost Institute for Leadership Education in Engineering, Institute for Studies in Transdisciplinary Engineering Education and Practice, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering

Chancellor’s Leadership Award – Distinguished Leader

Cheryl Milne –executive director, David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights, Faculty of Law

Diego Lupallier – senior manager, Grounds & Caretaking Operations, U of T Scarborough

President’s Excellence Award – Emerging Excellence

Erin Macnab – director, academic operations and strategic initiatives, Office of the Dean, Faculty of Arts & Science

President’s Excellence Award – Distinguished Excellence

Kurtis Scissons – director, University Ventures, Innovations & Partnerships Office, Division of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation

President’s Excellence Award – Influential Excellence

David Newman – executive director, Student Experience, Office of the Vice-Provost, Students, Division of the Vice-President & Provost

Students

Adel S. Sedra Distinguished Graduate Award

Mohammadamir (Amir) Ghasemian Moghaddam, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering

UTAA Graduate Scholars

Otuto Amarauche Chukwu, Institute of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Nicholas Grubic, Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Robert Xiaxuan Lao, department of laboratory medicine and pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine

John H. Moss Scholarship

Shane Joy, Victoria College, Faculty of Arts & Science

UTAA Scholars

Luis Sanchez-Blanco, Trinity College, Faculty of Arts & Science

Helen Li, Victoria College, Faculty of Arts & Science

Youness Robert-Tahiri, Woodsworth College, Faculty of Arts & Science

Surabie Sivanendran, U of T Scarborough

Ludwik and Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize – Emerging Leader

Shernett Auld, department of leadership, higher and adult education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

Yvonne Grace Chan, department of leadership, higher and adult education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

Read more about the 2025 Awards of Excellence