UNB faculty and staff are committed to excellence. They are innovators and mentors whose knowledge and passion inspire and encourage students and others to achieve success, to solve problems, to create change and to follow their dreams. These are just some of the outstanding examples of the champions of the UNB community.
In 2017, Dr. Emin Civi received the Neil Scott Educational Leadership Award at UNB and, in 2016, the Hormel Meritorious Teaching Award and the Hormel Teaching Excellence Award from the Marketing Management Association of the United States.
In addition to being saluted by colleagues in the U.S. for his commitment to teaching, Dr. Civi was praised here at home with the Neil Scott Award, which recognizes leaders who encourage excellence in teaching.
Dr. Civi founded the Faculty of Business Faculty Mentorship program, the Teaching Colloquium, the brown bag lunch-time series of talks on pedagogy at UNB Saint John, and is a long-time advocate of teaching excellence.
In 2015, he received the Association of Atlantic Universities Distinguished Teaching Award for outstanding teaching over his career.
Dr. Richard J. Currie was appointed to the Order of New Brunswick in 2017 for his accomplishments as a business executive and for his contributions to public education in the province.
In making the announcement, Premier Brian Gallant cited Dr. Currie’s legacy “as a business leader and for his contributions to the social, economic and cultural fabric of New Brunswick through his dedication and significant support of public education.”
Dr. Currie received the honorary designation of chancellor emeritus at UNB in 2013, after serving 10 years as chancellor. Born in Saint John, he attended UNB as a Beaverbrook Scholar, beginning studies in chemical engineering in 1955. A former president of George Weston Ltd. and former chair of Bell Canada Enterprises, Dr. Currie is considered to be one of the most successful business executives in Canada.
In keeping with his belief of the transformative power of education, he supports the Currie Scholarships at UNB. As a generous benefactor of our university, he donated more than $20 million to support the construction of the Richard J. CURRIE CENTER on the Fredericton campus.
Rice Fuller received the Award for Excellence from the Atlantic Association of College and University Student Services. The award is granted to individuals who demonstrate excellence through developing new initiatives to benefit student life, creatively use human resource materials and collaborate between the university and the local community.
Dr. Fuller has worked diligently in creating strong partnerships within the community to address the issue of sexual violence on campus. His team’s efforts have led to the creation of UNB’s Sexual Assault Policy as well as the Campus Sexual Assault Support Advocates in partnership with the Fredericton Sexual Assault Centre.
Student Services at UNB is dedicated to providing outstanding student-centred programs, services and spaces that enhance learning and foster development; it is because of employees like Rice Fuller that this is made possible.
Dr. Hildebrand received the prestigious Sir Sandford Fleming Award from the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering for his work across the country improving transportation safety.
Dr. Hildebrand has been passionate about improving safety in transportation over his three-decade career with UNB — acting as an adviser and investigator to Transport Canada on collision investigations as well as working closely with policy-makers and private industry.
He strives to ensure that his research is shared with others to maximize its ability to make a change in practice or policy.
“The award isn’t about me, it is recognition for the work a lot brilliant students have done over my 30-year career,” says Dr. Hildebrand. “I’ve helped students along, but they’re the ones that produce the research.”
Dr. Gregory S. Kealey was named to the Order of Canada in 2017. An inspired researcher, author and editor, Dr. Kealey has written or co-authored five monographs and more than 50 refereed scholarly articles and book chapters.
He has held a number of senior positions at UNB, including vice-president of research from 2001 to 2012 and provost from 2008 to 2012.
Dr. Kealey is one of Canada’s most well-respected academics, building an impressive national and international reputation for his achievements, not only in research and teaching but for leadership in university administration.
His many accolades include the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and being named Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Society of Canada.
UNB’s Marketing team has been making a big impact since it was formed in 2015 — and industry and higher education organizations are taking notice.
The Marketing team was recognized this year for its innovative #OnlyHere recruitment marketing campaign and award-winning video — We are UNB.
Since launching in September 2015, the #OnlyHere campaign has won two Internationalist Awards for innovation, and a Prix d’Excellence from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education.
Both awards recognized UNB for a guerrilla marketing tactic that brought high-energy teams to the streets of Toronto, equipped with #OnlyHere-branded viewfinders that made it possible for high school students to take 3D virtual tours of our Fredericton and Saint John campuses.
The Marketing and Media Services teams were also recognized with a Council for the Advancement and Support of Education District 1 Excellence Award for their "We are UNB" video.
Recently retired, Dr. Dianne McCormack received a lifetime achievement award from the Atlantic Regional Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing for her outstanding contribution to nursing education.
A dedicated teacher, she taught all levels of undergraduate courses. Her areas of research were the health of homeless persons, determinants of health, health status determinants for vulnerable populations and family health issues.
Dr. McCormack, a McGill Fellow from 2001 to 2003, was the recipient of various research grants and published 14 research papers.
Julia McDevitt was awarded Planner of the Year at the Meeting Planner’s International Atlantic Chapter awards gala. She is the first university conference services professional to win this prestigious award.
Ms. McDevitt is committed to providing clients with the highest level of service and strives to ensure that UNB is an excellent atmosphere to meet and celebrate.
UNB’s Wu Conference Centre earned the Supplier of the Year Award at this same MPI a year earlier. This was another first for the industry, with a university conference centre taking home the award.
Dr. Ben Newling was awarded the Neil Scott Educational Leadership Award by the UNB Senate. His willingness to share his trials and successes to help others receive the benefit of his teaching experience has made him a leader in the UNB teaching community.
His hallmark as a teacher is his willingness to employ new teaching strategies. The flipped classroom is a model he adopted that has been very successful. In a flipped classroom, students read through lectures at home, and come to the classroom to do work and have discussions.
Dr. Newling is a previous winner of the Association of Atlantic Universities Distinguished Teaching Award in 2016, as well as the Allan P. Stuart Award for Excellence in Teaching at UNB in 2015.
Imelda Perley was awarded the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers by then Governor General David Johnston in a ceremony at Rideau Hall for her work and determination in keeping First Nations cultural traditions alive.
As part of her ongoing efforts in education and outreach, Elder Perley has also served as a Canada 150 Ambassador.
She is an instructor at UNB’s Mi’kmaq-Wolostoqey Centre. She is founder and coordinator of the Wolastoq Language and Culture Centers Inc., situated at Tobique and St. Mary’s First Nations. The primary purpose of each centre is to promote Wolastoq language, culture, traditions, worldviews and ceremonies.
UNB’s young alumni coordinator, Natasha Rego, received a Rising Star Award from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education.
Rising Star Awards are designated for professionals with three to five years of experience in educational advancement who demonstrate achievements, accomplishments, early success and commitment in the advancement field. As a part of the award, Ms. Rego received a $2,000 Presidents’ Scholarship to be used to support further professional development in the year following their receiving the award.
Ms. Rego has been instrumental in increasing UNB’s young-alumni engagement through the design, implementation and ongoing measurement of UNB's U35 Young Alumni Network.
With her depth and breadth of skills and her unflagging attitude, she has become a valuable asset for UNB’s advancement team.
Sara Rothman received the Award of Merit from the Atlantic Association of College and University Student Services.
The award recognizes significant achievement and distinguished contribution to the development and promotion of Student Services as well as being a positive influence on Student Affairs professionals at colleges and universities across Atlantic Canada.
Ms. Rothman has been called a mentor to others in the field, particularly her female colleagues and inspires others to consider high-impact practices. She displays a love of learning and encourages others, especially through the provision of professional development.
Dr. Sensinger was named 2016 Young Health Researcher of the Year by the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation after careful consideration from a national peer review committee.
His research focuses on finding ways to develop thought-controlled bionic limbs.
Dr. Sensinger has been a tremendous presence at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering since arriving in the fall of 2013. The standards he sets in terms of the quality of his work have been an inspiration to his students and his colleagues.
Dr. Robert Viau was named a Knight of the Order of the Academic Palms for outstanding contributions to Francophone studies. It is one of the highest civic orders bestowed by France.
During his career, he has studied Québécois, Acadian and Western Canadian French literature and published numerous books and articles. As an educator, he has dedicated himself to promoting the French language to his students. He has organized several educational trips to France, through the UNB Travel Study Program, which allowed his students to immerse themselves in French literature, art and culture.
Dr. Viau is an outstanding professor, author and scholar. He has dedicated his career to both his students and to promoting the French language.
