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President's Medals, Distinguished Service Awards and Research Scholar Awards honour current employees of the University of New Brunswick, or those who have retired within one calendar year preceding the call for nominations.
President's Medals, Distinguished Service Awards and Research Scholar Awards are awarded for outstanding service to the university which may include teaching, research, administrative contributions, or any combination thereof.
The President’s Awards were established by the University of New Brunswick Senates and Board of Governors in 2000. A maximum of three President’s Medals, ten Distinguished Services Awards, two University Research Scholar Awards and three University Teaching Awards are given in any academic year.
This award is the highest honor the university community can bestow. The President’s Medal is awarded to an individual who has had a significant impact on the University of New Brunswick and its community. The recipient of this award has an exemplary record of sustained service and acknowledged contribution to the quality of life at the University of New Brunswick. The candidate's career should be distinguished by a dedication to the fulfillment of the University’s Strategic Vision and must reflect the core values of the University. This prestigious award is open to current members of the faculty and staff, or those who have retired within one calendar year preceding the call for nominations.
The President’s Distinguished Service Awards recognize exceptional performance, leadership and service by faculty or staff for outstanding service to the university which may include teaching, research, administrative contributions, or any combination thereof. The recipients have provided exemplary service to the university, over a sustained period of time, over and above the normal requirements of their positions. Distinguished service awards are open to current members of the faculty and support staff, or those who have retired within one calendar year preceding the call for nominations.
The University Teaching Scholar award recognizes University of New Brunswick teachers who have demonstrated a consistently high level of teaching excellence and teaching-related activities.
The University Research Scholar is awarded to researchers who have demonstrated a consistently high level of scholarship and whose research is, or has the potential to be, of international stature.
Dr. Lisa Best is a psychologist and historian of science with a distinguished record of service since joining the university twenty years ago. Her contributions benefit our students, faculty, both university campuses and the broader Saint John community immeasurably.
She is a long-time member of the Teaching and Learning Committee and an award-winning instructor. Within her research area, serves her broader discipline as a mentor to other psychology chairs in Canadian universities. She has chaired UNB’s Animal Care Committee and the university’s Research Ethics Board. She has contributed to UNB’s governance by sitting on dozens of hiring committees and as a Senator.
Lisa’s most impactful service is in program planning, notably as coordinator of the Bachelor of Health undergraduate program which has exceeded enrollment numbers under her leadership. She assumed the main role in designing both an extra-curricular certificate and honours program for the Bachelor of Health and personally advises all the program’s students. She is currently a member of the programming planning committees for the criminal justice minor and new degree program that will be announced soon.
Lisa has been the chair of the Psychology department since 2014. Her other service includes the supervision of 19 graduate students including four PhD students, recent work on the COVID-19 Response Academic Subcommittee, as well as her ongoing work as the Bachelor of Health undergraduate coordinator.
Lisa is a most worthy recipient of the President’s Medal for Service.
Michael Paul Albright has worked a combined 33 years at UNB as a technical officer at the Wood Science and Technology Centre and in the Department of Chemistry. Mike demonstrates a commitment to excellence and makes significant contributions to the success of students, faculty members and researchers. His duties include the maintenance of critical infrastructure and equipment, the development of external collaborations and the design of innovative and unique solutions for research and industry problems.
Mike has helped establish productive collaborations with industry thanks to his expertise in wood product standards and testing. During his career, he has developed innovative processes and equipment solutions, ranging from a non-destructive in-service testing system for timber products to designing and building a new shutter system for an X-ray diffractometer.
Mike has a knack for keeping legacy research instrumentation operational and improving the original performance. Several instruments in the department are, or were, the last of their kind in North America. They’ve been kept in service thanks to creative thinking, perseverance and excellent workmanship. Thanks to his expertise, UNB has expanded research capabilities while minimizing costs through efficient upkeep of existing equipment and shrewd acquisitions of research tools.
Through his commitment to excellence in all areas of responsibility, Mike has a meaningful impact on the experience and success of all those who pass through the Wood Science and Technology Centre and in the Department of Chemistry. We thank him for his contributions.
Susan Allen joined UNB Libraries in 1995 as an evening and weekend circulation department member, balancing her job with caring for a young family. In 2003 she began full-time work, first in circulation and then with the acquisitions department, where she took on responsibility for managing print serials.
As academic publishing migrated from print to online, Susan assumed a pivotal function in the rollout of the library’s electronic course reserves system which ensures compliance with Canadian copyright legislation for the educational use of materials. Susan is a calming influence who projects a confident demeanor in a modern library environment that has seen considerable restructuring.
Always looking to find systematic efficiencies in her responsibilities, Susan understands and communicates the value of the centralized course reserves system to fellow colleagues and coordinators. Notably, her skillset has shone as part of the role the UNB Libraries played in the campus’ transition to alternative delivery methods during COVID-19 restrictions.
Susan offers her services to the UNB community where she can be found helping students at orientation kiosks each September. She has served with her colleagues for many years through active membership on the UNB Joint Health & Safety Committee, the UNIFOR 4504 Fredericton & District Labour Council (FDLC) and as an executive member of UNIFOR 4504 as the SALAC-Unit VP for the Library Assistants & Job Evaluation Committee.
Susan works with energy, dedication and a healthy sense of humour. Her career, highlighted by exemplary service to the UNB community, is a model for everyone.
For over 35 years, Vince Boardman has provided exceptional service to UNB in support of our students and faculty. Vince has an exemplary record of sustained service and contribution to UNB, as well as a notable contributor to the department’s success during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hired as a technologist, Vince also serves as the department’s safety officer. Students, faculty and research staff find Vince's help invaluable as part of their research labs. Vince's dedication to the preparation, operation and management of laboratories is second to none.
Over the years, Vince has taken it upon himself to ensure that our laboratories are up and running and does a large portion of training our students on the use of lab equipment. He has written procedural manuals for the equipment and undertakes management of significant laboratory installations and repairs. He is an effective communicator with external vendors, service professionals, department faculty and UNB’s facilities management team. In the role of safety officer, Vince is deeply knowledgeable of safety protocols and known as an outspoken advocate for a culture of safety.
Vince’s work ensured a generation of future scientists in training can learn and perform at their best with the right equipment and safety protocols. Thanks to Vince’s contributions, the Department of Mechanical Engineering is a significantly better place to learn and work.
Dr. Christa Canitz began her UNB career in 1993 as an assistant professor in the Department of English and retires as professor in 2022. She has been a service superstar, consistent and unfailingly generous. Her contributions have made a significant difference to the well-being of UNB students, the department and the faculty.
An award-winning instructor, Christa puts students and their success at the top of her priority list. As an undergraduate advisor in the department, her thoroughness and attention to detail ensure every student is guided through the necessary stages of the program. She is one of the department’s best recruiters, her efforts resulting in the department’s honours and major’s student numbers rising 133% over three years.
Christa served for 14 years as a Faculty of Arts senator, on several Senate committees and numerous search committees. At the faculty level, she is a longstanding member of the Arts Curriculum Committee, has served as Arts Council secretary and volunteered to help colleagues proofread key documents within the department. She frequently led nominations of department colleagues for Emeritus status and President’s Awards.
As a scholar, Christa’s research is focused on Middle English and Middle Scots poetry. She edited the international journal Florilegium for 15 years, from 2005 to 2020. She is also the editor of two books of papers and authored articles on Beowulf and the writing of Geoffrey Chaucer among other topics.
We thank Christa for her contributions to the English department and to UNB.
Terry-Lynne King has a long and deep connection to the University of New Brunswick and to the Saint John campus especially. Terry-Lynne completed her post-secondary studies with UNB Saint John including her Bachelor of Nursing, Master of Nursing and designation as a nurse practitioner.
Since 2000, she has served in the health field as a registered nurse with the Saint John Regional Hospital, a public health nurse with the Department of Health and Wellness, a unit manager at a nursing home and joined the UNB Saint John Student Health Centre in 2005 as a nurse and educator. She has also served as a clinical and course instructor for several years within the UNB nursing program.
In recent years, Terry-Lynne has accepted greater leadership responsibility by formally being made the manager of the Student Health Centre. Recent changes were made to connect and support all health services under her leadership with the Student Counselling Centre moved under her portfolio.
Terry-Lynne plays a critical role in the success of the campus-wide COVID-19 response. She oversees the self-isolation planning and execution working to protect those who are the most vulnerable. Terry-Lynne administers COVID-19 testing and helped open an extension office of the health clinic in the Saint John campus residences. Terry-Lynne’s competent and empathetic care for UNB students warrants our recognition.
Dr. David Foord is an assistant professor in the faculty of management where he teaches courses in entrepreneurship, innovation and strategic management in the undergraduate and graduate business programs. He also supervises graduate students on the Fredericton and Saint John campuses in the interdisciplinary studies doctoral program.
David’s research interests include the discovery and history of science, technology and innovation studies. He has published articles on entrepreneurship education, the history of powered prosthetics, the U.S. carbon black industry, regional science, technology and innovation policy, the development of lighting, power generation and sanitation technologies.
Before coming to the faculty, David worked in UNB’s Office of Research Services where he structured intellectual property and licensing deals for start-ups. He then worked as the director of corporate development and as Chief Operating Officer for a local start-up in the energy sector. His research and experience in innovation, commercialization and entrepreneurship combine with his teaching style to deliver a rich and authentic learning experience for his students.
As an instructor, David sees his role as that of a mentor to each student. He authors original materials tailored to his course content and students’ questions. David delves into the research literature and practices of team and problem-based learning such as a live design workshop that facilitates real-time discovery. He brings entrepreneurs into the classroom and introduces students to local businesses to work with entrepreneurs.
Students from the MBA program appreciate his sincerity, dedication, support and guidance, with many leaving notes of thanks after taking David’s courses. At the faculty, we believe David’s approach to teaching represents the best of what we look for in our teaching at UNB by focusing on the students’ learning experience above everything else.
A member of the faculty since 2005, Dr. Paula Kristmanson is a dedicated and inspiring instructor long recognized for excellence in teaching. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses and has played an important role in program and course development.
As the director of UNB’s Second Language Research Institute, Paula has gained national and international recognition for scholarship and expertise in the areas of second language teaching and learning and teacher education. Her research contributions include three books, 11 articles, six book chapters, eight papers in conference proceedings and 114 international national and regional conference presentations, which includes 10 invited talks and six keynotes.
Her contributions in the area of teaching innovation are many. She co-developed a series of pedagogical DVDs designed to support the teaching of second¬language writing with the ECRI model (Reasoned and Coherent Writing in Immersion). She is also co-creator and co-producer of a well-received series of animated videos that synthesize key concepts in second-and additional-language instruction. These videos are widely used in undergraduate and graduate courses as well as NB Department of Education professional development modules.
Paula has served as President and in other leadership roles in both TESL Canada and TESL NB. She works in an advisory role with curriculum branches of the New Brunswick Department of Education and, in 2019, co¬organized a national conference on second-language education. As the acting associate dean of undergraduate programs in 2017, Paula played a key role in the development of the faculty's Bachelor of Education program.
For her achievements as an educator and pedagogue, Paula is deserving of the University Teaching Scholar Award.
Dr. Joanna Everitt is an internationally recognized political scientist whose research aims to increase gender diversity in politics. Her research employs provincial and national large-scale survey research, experimental studies, content and critical discourse analysis and interviews to analyze candidate gender identity.
Joanna’s area of focus is among LGBTQ candidates seeking election in local, provincial and national arenas. She seeks to understand the impact that local candidates from these traditionally marginalized and under-represented backgrounds can have on the democratic engagement of voters who share their identities.
Since she began her career at UNB 23 years ago, Joanna has published 18 peer-reviewed journal articles, 30 peer-reviewed book chapters, three co-authored monographs, three co-edited collections and nine reports. She has also generated two provincial election studies and maintained an up-to-date database of all LGBTQ federal and provincial candidates.
Her research has been continuously funded over her career, with five SSHRC grants, an Elections Canada grant, several fellowships, two post-doctoral grants and some institutional grants. Most of her funding ties to large national voting behaviour, including her two most recent grants: the 2021-26 $400K SSHRC Insight Grant for a project on the role of local candidate identity and media representations in Canadian federal elections and her 2019-2024 $2.4-million SSHRC partnership award, for which Joanna is a co-investigator. She has engaged undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students in all her projects.
During her term as dean of the Faculty of Arts, from 2008-2018, Joanna sustained her research productivity and graduate student supervision.
Dr. Aurora Nedelcu joined UNB in 2002 following the completion of a NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Arizona. She was promoted to professor in 2010 and holds diverse interests as an evolutionary biologist across multiple levels of biological organization in different disciplinary fields.
Aurora established two research programs at UNB: one focuses on the evolution of multicellularity, employing different approaches and frameworks and using the volvocine green algal group as a model-system. The other is a new research program using experimental evolution and cancer cell lines to better understand and manage cancer progression and dissemination. Aurora is the co-organizer of several international cancer and evolution conferences and is a former director for education and outreach for the Center for Evolution and Cancer at the University of California, San Francisco.
Aurora has 62 referred publications including 47 journal articles and 15 book chapters. She also co-edited a book on the transition to multicellularity. Her publications include international co-authors from the U.S., U.K., South Africa, Spain, France, Australia and Argentina with sixteen of her publications as invited contributions. Aurora’s research has been featured in international press media, such as Science, New Scientist, Scientific American, The Economist, Quanta Magazine and several textbooks.
A Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) discovery grant is funding her current research and Aurora has held continuous NSERC funding for three 5-year granting cycles. She received three research tools and instruments awards from NSERC and an NBIF research assistantships initiative grant. She has mentored over 50 undergraduate and graduate students and has been in the supervisory committee of graduate students at several U.S. universities.
Dr. Sanjeev Seahra obtained his PhD from the University of Waterloo and has held Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and other postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom. He is currently a professor and chair of the Department of Mathematics & Statistics at UNB and an affiliate member of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. He is also the director of AARMS, the Atlantic Association for Research in the Mathematical Sciences.
Sanjeev has published over 50 peer reviewed articles on general relativity and cosmology including two award-winning highlights from Classical and Quantum Gravity and an article in Physical Review Letters. He has been the principal investigator of funded research collaborations with industry and government concerning thermal sensing and COVID-19 and led an AARMS collaborative research group on the mathematics of black holes. He has been awarded for his teaching, recognized by the Girl Guides of Canada for founding the “All SySTEMs Go” provincial camps, made media appearances on television and radio, delivered several popular public lectures and quoted in print and online news articles.
The AARMS workshop series he founded has spawned funded collaborations between Atlantic Canadian mathematical scientists and various non-academic entities. His recent work on infectious disease modelling has played an important role in the governmental pandemic response of New Brunswick and other jurisdictions. Sanjeev serves as a member of the NSERC-Canadian Association of Physicists liaison committee.
President’s Medals
Distinguished Service Awards
University Research Scholars
Distinguished Service Awards
University Research Scholars
President's Medal
Distinguished Service Awards
University Teaching Scholars
University Research Scholars
President's Medal
Distinguished Service Awards
University Teaching Scholars
University Research Scholars
President's Medal
Distinguished Service Awards
University Teaching Scholars
University Research Scholars
Special Recognition Award
President's Medal
Distinguished Service Awards
University Teaching Scholars
University Research Scholars
President's Medal
Distinguished Service Awards
University Teaching Scholars
University Research Scholars
President's Medal
Distinguished Service Awards
University Teaching Scholars
University Research Scholars
President's Medal
Distinguished Service Awards
University Teaching Scholars
University Research Scholars
President's Medal
Distinguished Service Awards
University Teaching Scholars
University Research Scholars