Program Overview

Established in 2021, the President’s Excellence Award recognizes exceptional contributions by administrative staff and librarians. The President’s Excellence Award complements the Chancellor’s Leadership Award.

Recipients of the President’s Excellence Award demonstrate outstanding service to the University and enhance the university experience for students, faculty members, librarians, and/or staff in accordance with the University’s mission.

There are three categories of the award:

• Influential Excellence,
• Distinguished Excellence, and
• Emerging Excellence

The President’s Excellence Awards are aligned with the University’s broader Awards of Excellence (AWEX) – U of T’s most distinguished awards program.

2026 Recipients

Influential Excellence

 

Christopher Lang has worked at the University for 25 years, and he has served with distinction since 2009 in his current role at the Appeals, Discipline & Faculty Grievances (ADFG) Office. Under his expert leadership, the ADFG Office oversees, or is involved in, fifteen quasi-judicial processes, including the University Tribunal. Prior to his current role, Christopher worked in Labour Relations, where he was widely respected on both sides of the negotiation table for his depth of knowledge, collaborative approach, and commitment.

As Director of the ADFG Office, Chris navigates the various complex and highly sensitive quasi-judicial processes with extensive skill, judgement and knowledge. Over his time as Director, he has earned the trust and respect of the University staff, faculty members and academic administrators who he has engaged, as well as an extensive pool of high-profile volunteers from the external legal community who support these processes.

Chris has also made a global impact promoting academic integrity. He played a major role in the success of the International Centre for Academic Integrity, the oldest and largest such network in the world, including serving as its top leader for a period and leading the organization through a pivotal transition.

Chris has published on the legality of contract cheating companies; his and his co-author’s work has been cited by the House of Lords in the United Kingdom. He has also served on the editorial board of the International Journal for Educational Integrity, engaged in peer review of academic integrity policy for Ukraine related to the Ukraine American Council Project, and has been a keynote speaker at conferences in Canada and the United States.

Christopher Lang was nominated by Sheree Drummond, Secretary of the Governing Council, Office of the Governing Council.

Distinguished Excellence

 

Brittany Twiss exemplifies excellence through visionary leadership, strategic innovation, and commitment to equity and student success. Brittany oversees a broad portfolio spanning admissions, financial aid, wellness and student programs, Indigenous initiatives, career development, and seven public interest clinics and programs in her role at the Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law. Her leadership has elevated the Faculty’s reputation and impact by building collaborative teams and strengthening operational excellence.

Brittany has also spearheaded significant projects, including the development and launch of the Lawyers and Leaders for a Changing World program, a $10M leadership education initiative that positions the Faculty at the forefront of preparing future-ready lawyers. Beyond the Faculty, Brittany’s impact resonates nationally through her leadership at Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC), Canada’s largest access-to-justice-focused volunteer program, founded at the Faculty in 1996. As a former National Director, she introduced PBSC’s first Strategic Plan and expanded impact through innovative programs such as the Indigenous Human Rights Program and the Family Justice Centre, both first-of-their-kind programs in Canada. She also conceptualized the Summer Learning Institute to deepen law students’ commitment to equity and social responsibility.

Most of all, Brittany leads with a collaborative, inclusive approach that transforms culture. She builds trust, inspires excellence, and embeds equity across every aspect of the student experience and her portfolio. Respected by colleagues and students alike, she pairs vision with humanity, delivering sustainable, student-centred solutions that embody the University’s highest ideals of excellence, equity, and community engagement. Her leadership not only achieves results but motivates others to rise to the same standard.

Brittany Twiss was nominated by Jutta Brunnée, Dean and University Professor, Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law.

Emerging Excellence

 

Aman Chohan has strengthened student leadership development and cultivated a lasting culture of belonging at Rotman Commerce and across the University of Toronto.. Aman manages 30 student groups, oversees leadership and development activities for over 3,500 students, designs and implements Orientation programming, and manages the Rotman Commerce Experiential Education programs.

Aman brings an innovative approach to all he does. One of the ways he demonstrated both innovation and leadership was by establishing the Rotman Commerce Student Fund (RCSF), which is the first of its kind at Rotman Commerce. The fund will provide students with hands-on investment management learning and training for years to come. The fund allows students to use real investment capital and, in its inaugural year of operation, is already enhancing the student experience at Rotman Commerce.

To create this Fund, Aman recruited twelve board members, including faculty members, alumni, and industry professionals, and established a governance structure that strengthens U of T’s internal and external partnerships. He led multi-year consultations to shape the Fund’s strategic direction and bring it from concept to reality. Aman continues to lead communications and decision-making processes when changes or strategic redirection arise from either the student group or the Board. Aman’s efforts have helped establish RCSF as a charitable contributor, committing to donate 3.5% of total assets annually, making it the largest charitable donor among all student clubs on campus.

Aman Chohan was nominated by Jeannine Woodall, Director, Academic Services & Student Life, Rotman Commerce, Faculty of Arts & Science.

Presentation Details

Recipients of a 2026 President’s Excellence Award will be invited to attend a luncheon hosted by Kelly Hannah-Moffat, Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity & Culture, and Sandy Welsh, Vice-Provost, Students, to be held in the spring.

Recipients will receive their framed AWEX certificate at the 2026 Pinnacle Awards Luncheon alongside the 2026 recipients of:

• the Chancellor’s Leadership Award,
• the Jill Matus Award for Excellence in Student Services,
• the Joan E. Foley Quality of Student Experience Award, and
• the Ludwik & Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize

Further Details

Complete details on the award are available on the AWEX website.

The complete list of past recipients is also available.

Please contact the Employee Recognition & Engagement Team for additional information about this year’s recipients or the award program.

Learn more about other staff recognition programs at U of T through our Recognition Scaffold.