Since 2018, the People Strategy, Equity & Culture Awards of Distinction program has provided the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the exceptional contributions of HR professionals towards achieving the mission and vision of the Division of People Strategy, Equity & Culture (PSEC) and the broader University. This year’s program celebrates 26 individuals for their outstanding achievements.  

Congratulations to this year’s recipients! 

Meet this year’s recipients:

Distinguished Contribution – Individual Award: 

• Andrea Foster, Manager, HR Policy & Compliance 

Andrea demonstrated passion for collaboration and developed a thorough understanding of the University after joining PSEC in the midst of a pandemic. She has been a vital contributor to numerous projects while ensuing the successful implementation of several policies and processes that have been instrumental in the University’s ongoing response to COVID-19.  

Emerging Leader Award:  

• Karina Villar, Manager, Compensation 

Karina exemplified and embodied dedication, commitment, partnership, and leadership in her role. Through innovative new solutions, Karina demonstrated her creativity, openness for improvement, and willingness to collaborate with a broad range of University partners.  

Living Our Values Award: 

• Marilyn Kwan, Senior HR Consultant & Staff Develop Coordinator 

Marilyn generously shared her knowledge and time to give back to the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) and broader Human Resources communities. She has been an active volunteer for a wide variety of community and campus-specific initiatives and is dedicated to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion on the UTSC campus and within the broader University community.  

Distinguished Contribution – HR Team of the Year Award:  

• COVID-19 Working Group

The COVID-19 Working Group gathered the experience and expertise of institutional leaders and led the successful development and launch of many institutional priorities throughout the pandemic. This team continues to collaborate, improve the Division’s processes, and ensure that employees are supported to the fullest degree possible.  

Learn more about the Distinguished Contribution – HR Team of the Year Award Recipients. 

Distinguished Contribution – HR Team of the Year:  

• UPP Implementation Project  

Implementation of the University Pension Plan (UPP) was a challenging and significant project. This team effectively navigated the numerous system changes including data migration, automation of enrollment, and various other manual processes to improve the overall employee experience and successfully implement the University Pension Plan without issue.   

Learn more about the Distinguished Contribution – HR Team of the Year Award Recipients. 

Further information is available on the People Strategy, Equity & Culture Awards of Distinction webpage.