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.
Marie E. Maltais has been the longest-serving director of the UNB Art Centre since its establishment in 1941. She served from 1991 to 2025. With her dedication, big-picture mindset and desire to engage with the community, she built the establishment into one known for its professionalism and welcoming environment.
Throughout her tenure, Marie established and grew programming that engaged UNB students, staff, faculty and the wider community. Marie was a co-founder of the bachelor of applied arts program, initiated the student art group ArtZone and oversaw public non-credit offerings such as Leisure Learning classes for adults, the Maritime Writers’ Workshops and Design Works camps for kids.
Marie also presented 230 art exhibitions in the UNB Art Centre, as well as numerous lectures, film screenings, events and performances, bringing more than 110,000 visitors through the doors of Memorial Hall. Marie often presented challenging themes that tackled environmental problems, engaged in the history of Black New Brunswickers and gave space to Indigenous communities.
Marie more than doubled the number of artworks in the UNB Permanent Collection and refined its focus by establishing acquisition policies, procedures and a UNB office loan program. She also created guidelines for its care so that it may be accessible to UNB and the people of New Brunswick well into the future. Under Marie’s direction, many artifacts of Canadian art and cultural history were collected, including 25 Edward Burtynsky photographs.
Through her leadership, Marie uplifted emerging artists in the local, provincial and Atlantic communities. Her impact and legacy are forever part of the UNB Art Centre.
Kim Booker has been part of the UNB team since 2015, serving with exceptional dedication, professionalism and integrity. She successfully supported both the department of engineering and the department of mathematics & statistics for many years as administrative assistant, demonstrating remarkable organization and initiative.
Since becoming a dedicated administrative assistant for the department of engineering, Kim has been instrumental in ensuring its smooth operation. Her meticulous attention to detail and proactive approach have been especially vital during the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board accreditation process, throughout which her data management and coordination strengthened continuous improvement efforts. From managing teaching contracts and financial processes to co-ordinating events and resolving complex scheduling challenges, she consistently delivers excellence.
Kim is widely recognized across campus as a trusted and knowledgeable resource. She approaches every interaction with patience, respect and genuine care, fostering a positive and collegial environment for faculty, staff and students alike.
Among her many accomplishments, Kim developed a departmental orientation manual that was adopted by the vice president’s office and later adapted as a faculty handbook for broader use. This initiative reflects her steadfast commitment to enhancing the UNB community.
Kim’s contributions are essential to the success of our programs and to the strength of our academic community.
Kristel Desjardins has served as the manager of finance & administration within the Institute of Biomedical Engineering for more than 30 years. This large institute at UNB has between 20 and 40 active research projects at any time, and houses a world-renowned, specialized upper-limb prosthetics clinic serving clients from across Atlantic Canada.
Kristel has consistently demonstrated outstanding performance in managing a wide variety of roles, balancing a massive number of portfolios single-handedly with precision and integrity.
As the graduate student liaison, Kristel ensures that graduate students have a safe and inclusive environment in which to thrive. Kristel is proactive in noticing and addressing gaps and opportunities. With her institutional knowledge, willingness to initiate action and passion and care for IBME, UNB and its people, she has gone well beyond the normal requirements of her role.
With her outstanding performance, Kristel has become a role model for others around campus. As a natural connector, Kristel’s achievements within IBME have had a broad impact, contributing to UNB’s success in research, extending to other institutes and research centres and benefiting our graduate students. Whether the topic is safety, mental health or EDI best practices, Kristel connects ideas and people across campus, enabling others to incorporate best practices.
Within IBME, Kristel is an active member of the clinic, conference and social committees as well as several other committees. She has also been an active member of the UNB Joint Health and Safety Committee since 2020 and volunteers within UNB and beyond.
Bruce Miller joined the department of electrical and computer engineering in September 1983 as an electronics technologist and was later promoted to chief technologist in 1994. He is now the department’s longest-serving full-time employee.
Bruce has consistently exceeded the expectations of his role. He is known for making himself available whenever problems arise. He has frequently arranged for critical equipment to be delivered to his home to prevent delays in teaching or research activities. In 2020, when most of UNB was working remotely, Bruce worked on campus to facilitate the assembly and delivery of take-home lab kits to preserve experiential learning for engineering students.
Bruce has supported departments and faculties across campus, assisting chemical engineering with direct air capture systems, repairing heaters, travelling off campus to support fire science equipment and providing technical assistance for community-facing initiatives.
From 2019 to 2025, Bruce served as president of the Professional & Technical Staff Union, supporting professional and technical staff campus-wide. He has also educated generations of students in the practical realities of electronic systems, bridging the gap between theoretical instruction and applied engineering practice. He has also been a mentor to technical staff and faculty.
Bruce has supported student design projects and has participated in student and faculty events. He leads by example through integrity, humility, expertise and service, modelling professionalism for those around him.
For nearly 43 years, Bruce Miller has strengthened the technical foundation, student experience and collegial culture of UNB.
Dr. Saqib Hakak, associate professor at the faculty of computer science and technical lead at the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity (CIC), is an internationally recognized researcher whose work in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and immersive digital environments is shaping the future of digital trust. Saqib has built a pioneering research program dedicated to protecting identity integrity, securing autonomous systems and strengthening the resilience of next-generation digital platforms. His diverse research portfolio spans metaverse identity protection, early-stage ransomware detection, enterprise AI vulnerability assessment and intelligent security information and event management development—areas strategically aligned with emerging global cybersecurity threats. Through collaborations with leading institutions, Saqib’s work combines rigorous academic innovation with real-world application and impact.
Saqib’s contributions include developing top-ranked open-source fact-checking systems (FEVER 2025), producing widely adopted autonomous-vehicle cybersecurity datasets and publishing cybersecurity datasets that support researchers and practitioners globally. His expertise has been highlighted through national media interviews with CBC and Global News, informing the public on cybersecurity. He also plays a central role in UNB’s National Cybersecurity Consortium-funded interdisciplinary cybersecurity program.
With nearly 9,000 citations, an H-index of 37, over $1.9 million in external research funding and a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery Grant focused on AI-driven disinformation, Saqib is a leading voice advancing trustworthy AI and digital integrity. His scholarly output includes three edited books, numerous high-impact publications and international recognition, including a lightning talk at USENIX 2024, one of the world’s premier venues for security research.
Saqib has undoubtedly elevated the University of New Brunswick’s global reputation in AI and cybersecurity.
Dr. Hope Alderson joined the University of New Brunswick in January 2001. She held positions as a sessional instructor, lecturer and assistant professor, before earning tenure in 2020. From 2016 to 2023, she served as the coordinator of the Flora Beckett Math and Science Help Centre, overseeing its operations, hiring and training tutors and supporting student success. In 2023, Hope was promoted to full teaching professor. She currently holds a cross-appointment with the department of mathematics and statistics and the faculty of engineering.
Hope has contributed extensively to UNB. She has been a member of assessment committees, the Teaching and Learning Priority Fund Committee and has supported SOAR and open house events. She has played a key role in outreach initiatives such as the New Brunswick Math Competition, the BIG Math Networking Event, and UNB Discovery Camps.
Beyond the university, she has served on the New Brunswick Mathematics Education Strategic Table and as a reviewer for IEEE Frontiers in Education conferences. She has also co-organized the Annual Symposium on Engineering and Technology in Saint John. In 2022, she was an invited speaker at the Banff International Research Station workshop on teaching first-year university mathematics courses.
Hope was recognized as a highly regarded educator in 2021 when she received the university’s Allan P. Stuart Award for Excellence in Teaching. In 2021, she also began pursuing her professional engineer designation. She is now registered as an engineer-in-training with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of New Brunswick.
Dr. Dion Durnford’s classroom innovation, assessment design and educational leadership measurably elevate student learning. Grounded in a philosophy of learner autonomy and real-world engagement, Dion consistently creates spaces where students take ownership of ideas, practise authentic communication and develop confidence and critical thinking.
In his Science Communication class, Dion uses assessments to drive student interest and creativity. Students communicate science by publishing on public-facing blogs, contributing articles to The Brunswickan, authoring and editing a collaboratively produced textbook, developing episodes for UNB science podcast Beyond the Lab and creating a UNB Science Magazine. The magazine initiative is a prototype for future inter-institutional and national undergraduate collaborations.
Dion has enhanced assessment in a large first-year biology class by introducing two-stage exams where students complete an individual test followed by a collaborative group test. This approach promotes active learning that encourages productive peer discourse.
Dion’s leadership has made notable improvements at UNB. He conceived and led the creation of SCI 1911: Climate Change Science, coordinating eight instructors across all five science departments. This course anchors a new Certificate in Climate Change Studies that spans courses in the arts and sciences. He further advanced cross-faculty learning by organizing a climate change conference for students in arts and sciences.
As chair of biology, Dion established the Biology Educational Enhancement Fund, distributing more than $52,000 over three years toward course redesigns, field experiences, hands-on demonstrations, laboratory improvements and professional development. Dion has also expanded educational opportunities for students and promoted inter-faculty collaboration.
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