UM celebrates faculty excellence at annual reception

The University of Manitoba recognized outstanding faculty members at the annual Faculty Recognition Reception, held on May 7 in Marshall McLuhan Hall at UMSU University Centre.

Hosted by the Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), the event celebrated exceptional educators receiving awards for excellence in teaching, research, community engagement and service, and recognized faculty members who were granted tenure.

Dr. Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor, and Dr. Diane Hiebert-Murphy, Provost and Vice-President (Academic), offered their thanks for the passion, innovation, and leadership that continue to shape UM’s academic community.

Congratulations to all the honourees.

President Benarroch visits with attendees of reception.

Faculty Recognition Reception 2026

Olive Beatrice Stanton Award for Excellence in Teaching (2025)

Jennifer Watt (Faculty of Education)
Wan Wang (Faculty of Arts)

Dr. and Mrs. H. H. Saunderson Award for Excellence in Teaching (2025)

Jocelyn Thorpe (Faculty of Arts)

University of Manitoba Graduate and Postdoctoral Society Teaching Award (2025)

Saad Ahmed Khan (Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies)

Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Campbell Award (2025)

Susan Prentice (Faculty of Arts)

Community Engagement Fund Award (2025)

Robert Biscontri (I. H. Asper School of Business)
Sadia Ishaq (Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources)
Verna Kroeker (I. H. Asper School of Business)
Stephane McLachlan (Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources)
Vimi Mutalik (Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
Katherine Twaddle, (Desautels Faculty of Music)
Jay Wang (Price Faculty of Engineering)

Jennifer Watt with the UM President and Provost

Dr. Watt (centre) with Provost Hiebert-Murphy and President Benarroch

Jocelyn Thorpe with UM President and Provost

Dr. Thorpe (centre) with Provost Hiebert-Murphy and President Benarroch

Susan Prentice with UM President and Provost

Dr. Prentice (centre) with Provost Hiebert-Murphy and President Benarroch

Merit Awards (2024)

Each year, Merit Awards are awarded to faculty members for their outstanding achievements in teaching, research, scholarly work and creative activities, and service in three different categories.

View the list of 2024 Merit Award recipients

Inoka Amarakoon with UM President and Provost

Dr. Amarakoon (centre) with Provost Hiebert-Murphy and President Benarroch

Tenure (2026)

Inoka Amarakoon (Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences)
Janilyn Arsenio (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
Leo Baskatawang (Faculty of Law)
Faouzi Bellili (Price Faculty of Engineering)
Nicholaus Brosowsky (Faculty of Arts)
Stephanie Chesser (Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management)
Eric Collins (Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources)
Martine Dennie (Faculty of Law)
Bradley Doble (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
Britt Drögemöller (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
Lisa Engel (College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
Chyngyz Erkinbaev (Price Faculty of Engineering)
Kurt Espersen-Peters (Faculty of Architecture)
Graziano Fiorillo (Price Faculty of Engineering)
Mylène Gamache (Faculty of Arts)
Mercedes Garcia Holguera (Faculty of Architecture)
Kamni Gill (Faculty of Architecture)
Daniel Henhawk (Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management)
Alexa Hryniuk (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
Sunmee Kim (Faculty of Arts)
Lindsay Larios (Faculty of Social Work)
Benjamin Lindsey (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
Gillian MacNeil (Faculty of Law)
Ricardo Mantilla (Price Faculty of Engineering)
Amine Mezghani (Price Faculty of Engineering)
Adam Murray (Faculty of Arts)
Patricia Nadau (Faculty of Arts)
Chrysi Papadimitropoulos (Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Wenxi Pu (I. H. Asper School of Business)
Lara Rosenoff Gauvin (Faculty of Arts)
Zulma Rueda (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
Kelly Russell (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
Elham Salimi (Price Faculty of Engineering)
Deanna Santer (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
Katie Szilagyi (Faculty of Law)
Peter Thompson (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
Nicole Wilson (Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources)
Galen Wright (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
Jie Yang (I. H. Asper School of Business)

Leo Baskatawang with UM President and Provost

Dr. Baskatawang (centre) with Provost Hiebert-Murphy and President Benarroch

Zulma Rueda with UM President and Provost

Dr. Rueda (centre) with Provost Hiebert-Murphy and President Benarroch

Amine Mezghani with UM President and Provost

Dr. Mezghani (centre) with Provost Hiebert-Murphy and President Benarroch

The year associated with each award differs due to the timeframe of program. Learn more about the awards on the Faculty Awards webpage.

Boilerplate: Community

Creating space for everyone to thrive is more than a goal—it’s who we are. Fostering a vibrant community is among the commitments you’ll find in MomentUM: Leading change together, the University of Manitoba’s 2024–2029 strategic plan.