Citations of Distinguished Service Award Recipients who passed away prior to September 2011 are not available in electronic format.
Anthony Sanfilippo - 2021
Much of the work you have undertaken as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education since you began in the role in 2007 has been ahead of its time.
You restructured the entire curriculum to a competency-based model of education. You developed a diversity and equity statement and established a diversity panel, created a new governance structure for the program, and advanced a program accountability framework with mandatory deliverables.
During your tenure, faculty members have become much more engaged in leadership roles and students have benefitted from your focus on student wellness, career advice, and accommodations for those in need.
The impact your initiatives have had on the School is reflected in the words of those who supported your nomination for this award. 鈥淢entor鈥, 鈥渋nspiration鈥, 鈥渃hampion鈥, and 鈥渆ngaged鈥 are only a few of the ways your colleagues and students have described you, commenting that it has been a privilege to learn from and work with you.
Please allow us to celebrate all these achievements with the presentation of this Distinguished Service Award.
Robert Silverman 鈥 2006
As dean of the faculty of arts and science you served as its champion for a decade, propelling an impressive range of intellectual activities forward while advocating tirelessly for quality and excellence in teaching and research.
During a period of severe financial constraint your vision and considerate leadership protected and enhanced existing faculty strengths, consistently recognizing and supporting departments large and small, embracing the rich diversity provided by the creative arts, languages, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.
You are a most effective, charming and welcome ambassador, who waved Queen鈥檚 tricolour from coast-to-coast and beyond in the company of alumni groups and other friends of the University.
And at the end of the rainbow you found a splendid response, increasing support for scholarships and bursaries, new academic chairs, the renovation of lecture theatres, and badly needed upgrades to classrooms.
Even more striking than plaudits earned by your enlightened leadership of the faculty is the ubiquitous affection and regard you secured through compassionate and genuine interest in an office staff you empower, praise and motivate.
And then there is your infectious enthusiasm for making the Queen鈥檚 experience the best it can be for students and parents, a passion and utmost priority through good times and tragedies.
Presence in student life, warm open-door access, and an unwavering dedication to students, sparked an innovative student initiatives fund and remarkable partnerships and initiatives - in leadership programs, enriched extra-curricular activities and even home-cooked meals with the dean.
Sharing your values and absolute belief in the importance of humour and humanity, Queen鈥檚 honours your accomplishments and proudly presents an award for distinguished service.
Nancy E. Simpson - 1991
A pioneering human geneticist who since 1965 has rendered signal service through cross-appointments in Biology, Paediatrics and Medical Genetics, and a committed Queen's citizen instrumental in shaping the University's first Grievance Procedure.
No lone researcher in an ivory tower, she quested after a hereditary killer gene through a collaborative, long-term, multinational and interdisciplinary effort, bringing great credit home to Queen's and winning herself the 1989 award for Excellence in Research.
From the frontier of ideas, she wrested a legacy of action. Her research on cancer, diabetes, and prenatal diagnosis has already affected untold thousands; she has launched many graduate students on careers in genetics; through service to the Marty/Royce memorial trusts, she has effectively encouraged Queen's women scholars, not least through her instigation of the substantial Lynett scholarship; and through years of selfless service as grievance officer, often at a cost to her personal and scholarly pursuits, she has won respect on all sides for her objectivity and fairness.
To this superb medical sleuth -- for her participation in professional councils, government boards and task forces, and for her lengthy devotion to Queen's and humankind -- this Council expresses profound gratitude.
Duncan G. Sinclair - 1996
An outstanding academic administrator and scholar who has made extraordinary contributions to the life and work of this University. First in 1966 as an Assistant Professor of Physiology, earning his scholarly spurs in record time, winning an appointment as Dean of Arts and Science and serving the Faculty from 1974 until 1983, then appointed to three Vice-Principalships -- Institutional Relations, Services, and Health Sciences. The latter, we are happy to say, came with his second deanship, leading the Faculty of Medicine. This creative, untragically hip counsellor to students, faculty, alumni, Chancellors and Principals, gets the white glove treatment from Queen's medical classes.
From time to time we shared him with Canada's Medical Research Council, and with Prime Ministers and Premiers, and with scores of boards, groups, agencies, and committees he has advised, chaired or steered. Duncan is particularly good in a steering role, passengers are engaged, you get where you're going, riding over the bumps on innovation, confident the destination will answer critical needs.
Internationally recognized as a guru of healthcare reform, this keen cooperator played a key role in bringing into being North America's first alternative funding program for academic medicine, now considered a model for Ontario and Canada.
Sage of the JLC, architect of the AFP, midwife of the Southeastern Ontario Health Sciences Centre, we wish you well with your new challenge -- chairing Ontario's Health Services Restructuring Commission. We know and appreciate that your belief in the perfectibility of people and process serves us all.
Nadine Sloan - 1992
Who began her 30-year career at Queen's as a secretary in the Physics Department, moved to the Arts and Science office five years later, and retired last fall from an absolutely key position as overseer of that complex faculty's $40-million budget.
Without computers or electronic spreadsheets, using just an adding machine, a sharp pencil and some ledgers, combined with her keen mind and total dedication to the continuing welfare of the university, she could at any moment provide a meticulous accounting of human and financial resources.
She has been outstanding among those who enable Queen's to protect a valuable tradition of "academic" senior administrators rather than corporate professionals. To five deans, their associates and innumerable department heads, she has been indispensable as the principal repository of precedents and data, often "saving them from themselves" as their collective memory and financial conscience.
In the glowing words of her many and grateful nominators. Nadine Sloan has been credited with unfailing promptness, cheerful accessibility, quiet competence, disciplined professionalism, integrity, judgment, and warm humanity. Her commitment went well beyond five-day weeks and seven-hour days, and the extra was always given with grace and good humour.
Her contributions have been called distinguished, enormous, unstinting, and till now -- by her own choice -- almost invisible outside her faculty. We are hereby pleased to make Queen's recognition a matter of record.
Mary Smith - 1994
Whose family tree boasts an eminent economist, a dedicated teacher, and the head of a respected university -- and that was before her marriage!
Her success in theological studies has been an inspiration to mature students, especially women called to ministry, as she herself was to Kingston's Sydenham Street United Church; her strong pastoral sense has made her a treasured Field Education Supervisor and kindly mentor to successive Theology students; and her commitment to the greater good -- instilled by her father and shared with her husband -- has led to seven years' service on her alma mater's Board of Management, the last four as chair of its nominating committee. For many years she has also been a sparkplug of the Faculty Women's Club, sharing her organizational skills, hospitality, and quicksilver grasp of literature, politics and the challenges of being a grandparent.
Imbued with the Baptist and liberal traditions of her youth, she has touched everyone crossing the "first family's" path with her genuine appreciation of their individuality, diversity and gifts. Particularly as chatelaine of Summerhill, her managerial competence -- her gift for making things work, and work nicely-has seen a host of visitors, students and officials comforted by good food and stimulated by good company.
We appreciate her as the smiling shaker of countless hands in endless receiving lines, a gracious sayer of graces, a frequent flyer and queen of the road, eating the ubiquitous chicken and sipping the mandatory sherry on the alumni dinner Mary-go-round.
We have it on the word of the 16th Principal that she is simply "a wonderful person," and we see for ourselves she has been a true partner, unfailingly supportive of his seven-day work weeks (which inevitably escalated to nine early in their term). With this award we acknowledge her gifts to Queen's in her own right, but also as "the wind beneath his wings", the extra helping hand, sharp eye and strong, loving heart in partnership with the Principal's.
Frances K. Smith - 1987
Curator Emeritus of the Agnes Etherington Art Centre, she is widely recognized throughout the land as a skilful and tenacious organizer and cataloguer of important, ground-breaking exhibitions, much honoured by her peers for outstanding service to the arts in Canada.
Art historian and biographer of Andr茅 Bi茅ler, her notable contributions to the literature of Canadian art have advanced the nationwide renown of "The Agnes" and the recognition of Queen's as wellspring of its excellent endeavours.
As factotum extraordinary, she nurtured every aspect of the Art Centre's development since it opened in 1957 with inexhaustable enthusiasm, total dedication and prodigious energy. She was assiduous and inventive in promoting community involvement and participation in the programs of "The Agnes". A pervading presence, her knowledge and assistance was generously available to all comers.
In her so-called retirement, with undiminished zip, she has continued to write, to organize exhibitions, and is mastering the martial art of arm twisting as fund-raiser in chief for Kingston's latest heritage project, the MacLachlan Woodworking Museum.
Gordon Smith - 2015
You have proven yourself a determined advocate for the creative arts and a gifted administrator.
During your time at Queen鈥檚, you have served as Director of the School of Music, Associate Dean, and now Vice-Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Science. You have been extremely busy during that time, working to develop joint programs with St. Lawrence College, establishing the Indigenous Studies Minor, and working to create a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Arts 鈥 all while continuing to be an active academic.
You have been an active member of the Aboriginal Council of Queen鈥檚, where you have always been dedicated to maintaining strong and positive relationships with our Aboriginal Partners. You have shown your support time and again for the importance of Aboriginal ways of knowing and being.
One of your 成人大片 services to Queen鈥檚 came from when you chaired the Operations and Planning Committee for the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts. In this position you balanced the needs, interests, and opinions of many different parties. Because you cared deeply about the Centre, you spent hundreds of hours reviewing plans to make sure that everything was just right.
Once the Centre opened, a number of departments that were previously separate were brought together into the same building 鈥 a building without set policies, practices, and no established 鈥渨ay of doing things鈥. You were consummately tactful as you handled the concerns and frustrations that arose from this situation. Many of the people involved have said gratefully that things went so smoothly in large part thanks to your leadership.
You have demonstrated for years your dedication to fostering a vibrant intellectual and creative climate on campus, and you have given selflessly of your time, energy, and insight. For the many services you鈥檝e rendered Queen鈥檚, I鈥檓 pleased to present you with this award for distinguished service.
Colette Steer - 2023
You exemplify the concept of going 鈥渁bove and beyond鈥 in one鈥檚 work. Not content to merely fulfil the work expected of your role, you have become an integral part of the university and the lives of numerous graduate students at Queen鈥檚 from their application, through to orientation, course and thesis work, and convocation.
Your initiatives, such as the 3 Minute Thesis Competition, Career Week, Dissertation Boot Camp, Grad Chat, and Research Spotlights, always have students at their core and have become well loved aspects of the Queen鈥檚 graduate experience. Student comments on exit surveys reveal how pivotal these experiences are to their learning and ability to build the kind of community that helps them succeed, often mentioning you by name.
Your efforts to create community extend beyond the student population, as is evident when accompanying you on a walk across campus, which may take more time than expected given all those who stop to chat with you on the way! Indeed, your colleagues demonstrated their trust in you by electing you not once, but twice, as their representative to the university鈥檚 Board of Trustees.
It is with great enthusiasm and honour that we present you with this Distinguished Service Award in recognition of your achievements and impact.
Kim Sturgess - 1999
Generous friend and magnetic Queen's booster, quintessential volunteer, professional engineer, successful business leader and entrepreneur, we recognize her special gifts of service to all the comers of 成人大片.
An enthusiastic alumni branch supporter, class agent, campaigner for Queen's, and University Councillor, her four terms of active membership on the Board of Trustees point to countless hours of thoughtful financial stewardship and leadership on the big decisions involving the University's fiscal well-being. As the purse strings have tightened, she brings her own indomitable brand of Queen's spirit and her analytical talent to these Queen's team moments, to ensure the best information is available, to clarify and communicate it and thus help refine decisions on the thorny issues. On these issues she is a welcome positive presence among Queen's decision-makers. The "can do" attitude she brings is pure warm western Chinook, welcome indeed among the often bleak columns of numbers and challenges to meet.
We honour Kim for her constant and unfailing interest in making sure that Queen's remains among the lantern-bearers, keeping it that special place where so many elements come together to invigorate the intellect, awaken the heart, and teach what a transcending sense of purpose can mean.
Peter Taylor - 2014
You have served the Queen鈥檚 community as a teacher, scholar and administrator for more than 45 years.
You are viewed as a world leader in the field of mathematical biology, to which you have made many contributions. In fact, your work has helped establish Queen鈥檚 as a leading centre for research in the area.
But you have not allowed that to limit your research. Just as you have held cross appointments in the departments of biology and education, your publications straddle the humanities, the sciences and literature on learning.
You have been widely recognized and honoured as an outstanding teacher, just as you have been for your contributions to the development of innovative curricula. Your ideas have had a widespread impact on students at all levels 鈥 from high school to graduate school 鈥 have been shared nationally. You have been praised for creating a thoughtful and vibrant teaching culture wherever you have worked.
While some faculty members take on administrative work with reluctance, you have gone above and beyond to contribute to the running of Queen鈥檚, serving on countless committees over the course of your tenure, as well as in other important roles, including as a member of the Board of Trustees.
Your colleagues have commended your civility, thoughtfulness and boundless energy, as well as your habit of always making yourself available to those who need your help. You represent the values and principles this university holds dear.
It is for these and many other reasons that we are pleased to present you with a Distinguished Service Award.
Barbara Teatero - 2014
With a career spanning 45 years and several roles, you have made a tremendous contribution to Queen鈥檚.
As a senior library administrator, you have had a far-reaching and long-term impact on the research environment and on the student learning experience at Queen鈥檚. During your tenure you have also managed a number of major projects seen as critical to the library鈥檚 future.
While disinclined to seek out the limelight, you continually demonstrate exemplary leadership nonetheless -- from playing an instrumental role in realizing the vision of the Task Force on the Library in the early 1990s, to more recently assisting with the development of the Library and Archives Master Plan. You have also worked to ensure the ongoing development of the library鈥檚 collections and services.
You have also earned a reputation for your ability to work with donors. If they had any doubts about parting with cherished collections, those doubts were soon laid to rest once they caught wind of your love for the library and its collections. Thanks to your efforts, the library acquired a great number of significant artifacts.
Your colleagues have described you as a gifted administrator with a supportive and encouraging manner, highlighting your ability to speak with people in all circumstances and in all walks of life.
For these many reasons, among others, we are pleased to present you with a Distinguished Service Award.
Manuel Teves - 1991
Who for most of his 22 years in Campus Engineering has carried the official title "Groundskeeper" and the affectionate sobriquet "Mr. Campus".
From a family farm in Portugal, he brought to Canada and Queen's a great love of working outside, working hard, and working in soil not only with his hands, but also his heart.
With unfailing geniality despite failing resources, he has striven, sometimes single-handedly, to keep Queen's environment inviting and humane. While tending plants both indoors and out, keeping lawns green and flowers at their blooming best, he has exuded kindness and bonhommie to Principals and passers-by alike.
When asked to supervise students as summer helpers, he patiently trained them, smilingly pulled them from job to job in a pink-painted tool cart behind his tractor, and planted the seeds of enduring friendships. With loving commitment, he has also nurtured three transplanted sons and cultivated a Queen's alumni family of his own.
For years of conscientious work, for his patent affection for Queen's and all its people, and for his proprietorial pride in keeping the campus green, may he long reap a harvest of his University's appreciation.
Tom Thayer - 2000
A gifted accountant, wise resource analyst, master of self-deprecation, and far-sighted financial wizard, whose utterly remarkable gifts of fiscal dexterity and judgment have strengthened the foundations of 成人大片, and given leadership and counsel to students, staff, faculty, trustees and to professional colleagues across Canada.
We are grateful for the persistent common sense questioning instincts of our doubting Thomas. They engender extraordinary confidence. We know the mysteries of market fluctuation and revenue prediction will be resolved. We see the light hidden under the bushel revealing the Renaissance man and his considerable diversity, unquenchable interests, and thoughtfulness of others.
And beyond all the core contributions and the service to committees and councils, symphonies and cinemas, we recognize the talents of a manager who has led his own office operations through a period of unprecedented change. From punch card technology to 21st century analytical tools and systems, he has guided this accomplishment always with a warm caring personal approach toward his staff, going many extra miles on the journey to help others sort through things and understand.
With the frequently heard chorus of caution and appreciation echoing in our ears, "better run that by Tom Thayer," we celebrate two decades of pivotal participation in every major financial initiative at Queen's and we honour this exemplary service with an award for distinction.
Lee Tierney - 1997
Coordinator and planner without peer in her ability to organize splendid events. Her talent for getting the best out of people makes Queen's ceremonials shine, pipers pipe, and Boo Hoo bear hugs to Peter Lougheed.
Behind-the-scenes installer of Principals and Chancellors, architect of building openings and royal convocations, arranger of special Trustee moments, our Associate Secretary of the Board and convocation pilot designs and choreographs Queen's institutional milestones. Maestro and coach, her artistic touch, and her extraordinary grace and dignity encourages event teams to go for excellence.
In good times and tough times, Lee's role in making special occasions into consistent winners has helped to bond the Queen's community together and confirm values symbolized by the University.
For her distinguished service we celebrate the exceptional effort and creative contributions of a person who doesn't usually get to take the bow and hear the applause.
George O. Toller - 1985
Whose graduation vow to cherish a generous loyalty to his university has been a motivating principle of his life for 35 years.
As former President of the general Alumni Association, a member of its Board of Directors, Chairman of its Fund Committee, president of branches in Toronto and Ottawa, and a charter member of the Cha Gheill Society, he has given unstintingly of his time, energy, inspiration and talents as a professional investment analyst. As Alumni President he oversaw the computerization of graduate records, the launching of a new constitutional framework for the association's growing role in the life of Queen's, and the laying of groundwork for the secretariat's eventual move to permanent quarters in historic Summerhill. He worked indefatigably in four major fund-raising campaigns, and, thanks to the support of his peers, was able to give the University Council the benefit of his experience for 18 years.
Concurrently, this man of faith has served on the Board of Management of Queen's Theological College, successfully applying the Biblical mustard seed dynamic as Chairman of its Investment Committee.
We salute his unfaltering, optimistic devotion to the ideals of his alma mater, his sincere interest in its workings and its workers, and the innate sense of responsibility, hospitality, courtesy and confidence that have inspired others to work at his side, leaving this University and all Queen's alumni his debtors.
Bernard F. Trotter - 1988
Nationally esteemed author, broadcast guru, policy analyst and guardian of Canadian culture;
For his vital role in the evolution of University policies and academic development during the seething sixties, surging seventies, and earnest eighties;
For using a family legacy of history scholarship first to shape a 15-year career as world-roving Public Affairs specialist for the CBC and then to enhance a 25-year role as Queen's policy watchdog and Principals' precentor;
For his mastery of stagecraft since student days -- setting the scene for the Formula Funding system through which all Ontario universities have been funded since 1967; juggling academic reports for the various purposes of Queen's Senate, the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, and government ministries; turning the spotlight on the Queen's family's achievements in teaching, research and public service as Director of Communications; calling many of the tunes heard in Kingston concert halls, and devising ways to pay the piper; decorating the scene by supporting art and art galleries; raising a supporting cast of two young alumni; being impresario of this University Council from 1984 through '87; and quietly, from a prompter's place in the wings, helping to cue Alex Corry and three successive Principals as they delivered their lines in the unfolding drama of his beloved Queen's.
Innes van Nostrand - 2016
Your contributions to Queen鈥檚 as a student leader, administrator, University Councillor, and Trustee are far too numerous to describe all at once, and your impact on the University will last for many years to come.
Your devotion to Queen鈥檚 began during your time as the President of the Alma Mater Society, when you ran what amounts to be a diversified business with hundreds of paid and volunteer staff coordinating dozens of programs and activities over many months.
You represented Queen鈥檚 in front of municipal, provincial, and federal governments, and advocated for support and services that would provide the very best experiences for your peers.
You moved on to become the Director of Alumni Affairs at Queen鈥檚, responsible for providing a vision for all alumni initiatives and projects, and laying the foundation for success in advancement and alumni relations the Queen鈥檚 enjoys today.
Your membership on University Council began in 2001 and, shortly thereafter, you were elected by your fellow Councillors to the Board of Trustees, earning their confidence and being elected a further two times in the years to come. You also earned the confidence of your fellow Trustees while serving as Chair of the Board鈥檚 Advancement Committee and its Governance and Nominating Committee.
You have also chosen to dedicate your time to Queen鈥檚 in a myriad of other volunteer roles, becoming involved with the University Club, Alumni Association, and Queen鈥檚 University Engineering Society Services Inc. This diversity of roles has allowed countless Queen鈥檚 students and alumni to learn from you and your experiences, and to apply them in their own lives.
Your contributions to this University deserve the utmost recognition, and I am honoured to present you with this award for distinguished service.
David Walker - 2011
Ever since you stepped foot on campus in the 1960s to begin pre-medicine studies, you have been a highly visible supporter of Queen鈥檚. You blend a democratic and inspirational leadership style that explains why so much was achieved during your tenure as Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Recognized for your wisdom and eloquence, you identify and distill the issues that are most meaningful for your constituents and stakeholders. In weighing what was good for your faculty in the short term, and the University in the long-term, you considered the Big Picture. Your support of the University in such situations was unfailing. You recognized that compromise was necessary in all things, and that ultimately, your Faculty would succeed if the University flourished. Students have always been at the centre of your world. Even with all the pressures on your time, you have always been available to them, listening to their concerns and dispensing wise advice.
Your thorough understanding of the University, its practices, and traditions do not bind you to the past, but rather inform and influence your ability to look to the future in ways that are both sensitive and strategic. A new Medical School building, whose 鈥渃onception and gestation鈥 began during your time as Dean, will serve as a lasting reminder of your leadership skills.
For your loyalty to Queen鈥檚, the University Council is proud to present to you a Distinguished Service Award.
Lucinda Walls - 2021
You have had a profound affect on the university through your role as Queen鈥檚 Liaison Librarian for Art and Music, greatly facilitating the education of countless students in Art History, Art Conservation, Drama, and Music at every level of study, from first year students to those in the final year of their doctoral degree.
Many of them have remarked on your warm and friendly nature, your endless patience as they learned the ways of library catalogues and databases, and your dedication to one-on-one assistance to ensure they have exactly what they need to be successful.
Your 鈥渂ehind the scenes鈥 work is also extraordinary and far beyond the call of duty, including the sensitive cultivation of relationships with individuals who choose to bequeath their personal libraries to Queen鈥檚. This work has ensured the university鈥檚 art and music library is one of the finest in the province, if not the country, and that your legacy will live on long after your work at Queen鈥檚 is done.
It is with great enthusiasm and honour that we present you with this award in recognition of your achievements.
Donna C. D. Watts - 1984
Manitoban by birth, Ontarian by upbringing, she is the living proof of the virtues of federalism.
Educated at Trinity College, University of Toronto, she was an outstanding student in English and History and a prize-winning athlete. Today, as a high school teacher par excellence, Donna instills in her students the virtues of scholarship and sportsmanship. Chatelaine of Summerhill, sparkplug of KCVI, her bicycle joins her two careers together.
Enthusiastic team supporter, gregarious hostess and keen sportswoman, Donna's boundless energies are balanced by her capacity to sit patiently through endless functions. Quick to ease the discomfort of those who are shy, sensitive to the concerns of the elderly, willing to lend a sympathetic ear to importunate students, Donna brings a lively mind, a friendly nature, and an informal presence to Queen's that makes her a 24 karat golden Gael.
A firm believer in the principle of things, her commonsense and practicality have carried her through ten years of hard work, long hours, and constant activity. Sailor, skier, tennis and squash player, history scholar, drama buff, hiker, traveller, seamstress and gourmet cook, Donna is a mega watt generator of the spirit of Queen's.
Ronald L. Watts - 1984
Teacher, advisor, author, administrator skilled in diplomacy - "main frame" of the university.
Born in Japan, educated in Port Hope, Toronto, and Oxford, his encyclopaedic knowledge of federal systems and broad understanding of political philosophy have made him the counselor of governments, mentor of students and champion of universities.
Skipper of the good ship, "Queen's", Dr. Watts has skillfully navigated her through the straits of full accessibility, across the shoals of fiscal constraint and past the reefs of underfunding to bring her to port with all flags flying.
Rhodes Scholar, Officer of the Order of Canada; participant in such important government studies as The Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, The Task Force on Canadian Unity, and most recently, the Bovey Commission on the development of the Ontario university system; member of so great a number of committees that their acronyms would fill a dictionary, Dr. Watts has brought honour and prestige to Queen's through these notable accomplishments.
Ally of faculty and staff, friend of students, supporter of alumni, staunch fan of every tricolour team/ he has proudly donned Queen's colours and waved them near and far with spirit, stamina and goodwill. This university under his stewardship is distinguished by excellence in its appeal.
David G. Whiting - 1999
Who lives the alumni mission, with his own Queen's family, ever reaching out to others to join him in a lifelong association with Queen's, engaging alumni in the life and work of the University, and serving the alumni community in all its wonderful diversity.
Moved to 30 years of service by the inspiration gained from his years in Science '65, David is a devoted volunteer, constant point of light, and class reunion wizard. His quiet infectious enthusiasm keeps friendships alive and ensures that the Queen's experience will be available for generations to come.
The epitome of alumni volunteerism, active in every imaginable way, a campaign volunteer and adviser to University officers, he has served as national alumni president, worked to build local branch activities, and given his time and his energy to University Council, and Alumni Board and Assembly. He has taken his successes in business and in his life beyond, and offered these gifts to strengthen Queen's, most recently, breathing life into a new strategic plan improving Alumni Association governance.
With this award for distinguished service we honour a lifetime labour of love for alma mater and celebrate a man of insight and caring whose university is in his heart, remembered always, and shared with others.
Tom Williams - 1995
On behalf of the Queen's and Kingston communities who owe him such gratitude as the David who slew two Goliaths -- the wild Orientation and the rampaging Street Party -- during nine complex years as the Vice-Principal who coped with parading protesters, ghetto garbage, dissident students, recalcitrant committees, pub licences, heritage vigilantes, crumbling limestone, falling trees, shrinking resources and rising admissions.
A born teacher, an active scholar, and an outstanding former Dean of Education, he has brought Queen's distinction as a North American expert in the administration of public education and the management of conflict. Students count on his frankness, fairness and abhorrence of prejudice. Colleagues rely on the thoroughness of his research, the humanity of his administration, and his courage in a crisis.
In the depth of his involvement with the Board, Senate and University Council, he has had a marked influence on Queen's fiscal planning, campus development, academic change, admissions policy, town-gown relations, student government, physical plant, and campus security.
The monuments to his special skills in campus planning will include the renewal of yesterday's limestone, today's magnificent Stauffer Library and tomorrow's exciting BioSciences Complex.
As one of his earliest publications proves, he has always known the difference between leaders and lemmings. Fortunately for Queen's, his career has always been among the former. In gratitude, we salute Tom Williams' vision and practice of leadership and the selflessness with which he has always put the higher ideals of this University before his own interests.
Kimberly Woodhouse - 2022
How to summarize the roles you have played at Queen鈥檚 University? Educator, teacher, researcher, administrator, fundraiser, mentor, leader, and perhaps even reformer. You have done these and more, and the university is better for having you here.
As the first female dean of engineering, you used your position to ensure the field was more accessible for other women, increasing the number of female-identifying students while also recognizing historical and ongoing barriers they face and encouraging other to do so as well, with the establishment of a Queen鈥檚 event recognizing the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
The university managed to lure you back to leadership with your role as Interim Vice-Principal (Research) for three years. Not content to sit with the status quo, you vigorously engaged in government relations, compliance oversight, governance reforms, and the strengthening of key research centres and institutes.
Queen鈥檚 is privileged to have had you as a member of its community. It is with great enthusiasm and honour that we present you with this award in recognition of your achievements.
Daniel Woolf - 2020
What to say about an individual who chose to dedicate almost his every waking moment for a decade to Queen鈥檚 as its 20th Principal?
Travel, speeches, meetings, celebrations, athletic events, town halls, and convocations almost too numerous to count made up just part of your days leading the university. For you still found time to interact with students on a personal level, teach, research, blog - and tweet! Sometimes about Queen鈥檚, but also about astronomy, history, jazz, grammar, and your cats, who came to be almost as much a part of Queen鈥檚 as you.
Your leadership saw the university through immense challenges, guiding us back to financial stability after the 2008 global economic crisis, modernizing the administration with the introduction of the provostial model, and expanding our worldwide reach with new international partnerships and collaborations.
Your influence on Queen鈥檚 will be felt for many decades to come. We thank you for your boundless dedication and efforts with this Distinguished Service Award.
Brian Yealland - 2010
Your kindness and devotion are known to thousands of Queen鈥檚 and broader community members. Over your 27 years as Queen鈥檚 Chaplain, you have provided countless invocations at official Queen鈥檚 events, and have presided over life鈥檚 milestones; commemorating births, weddings, funerals and memorial services with poignant reflection and spirituality. You have a unique gift for relating to people in all of their diversity.
Although much of your work is public, your finest talents are hidden in the quiet conversations; the support and sympathy you give to people behind the scenes. Your intuitive and calm presence quells fear, eases sadness and accentuates joy. In the face of tragedy, we turn first to you, knowing you will be the last to leave our side when we are in need of comfort. You navigate seamlessly between practical details and broader philosophical or spiritual concerns. You make time for people, no matter how busy you are, day or night, weekdays or weekends, on- or off-campus. From throwing a curling rock to playing squash, your spirit and determination shines through in everything that you do.
One supporter summed up your profound and positive effect on Queen鈥檚 collective morale with the following quote by Albert Schweitzer: 鈥淎t times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame with us.鈥
For your compassion and understanding, the University is honoured this evening to present you with this award for distinguished service.
William Young - 2012
After 16 years of service to the Board of Trustees, the last six as Chair, your resilience and dedication is remarkable. A diplomatic, strong and thoughtful leader, you have capably led the Board of Trustees through an exceptionally complex time in Queen鈥檚 history, fraught with financial challenges. Under your watch, the Board made a landmark decision to restructure from 44to 25 members. Through this process, your ability to drive change, particularly in a large institution such as Queen鈥檚, is exemplary. Your ability to build consensus while respecting the importance of all opinions and perspectives is appreciated by all of us who work toward promoting the University鈥檚 mission.
You have always been a huge supporter of Queen鈥檚 students; accessible and personable; a leader by example.
The commitment of time and energy that you have given to your alma mater is a model for all. Although based in Massachusetts, the distance never impeded your ability and enthusiasm to serve. You always give the impression that anything to do with Queen鈥檚 comes first.
In recognition of your outstanding and enduring contributions to Queen鈥檚, we proudly present to you this award for distinguished service.
Joyce Zakos - 1999
A most exceptional Queen's person. The "first among equals" and "premiere role model" are unanimous sentiments expressed by her peers in a community where responsibility and extraordinary commitment to the job are commonplace. Mentor by example, she is admired and respected by co-workers all.
Joyce is proof that performance counts -- travelling many "extra miles" on her journey from part-time clerical staffer in the 60's, upward to Principal's executive assistant in the 90's. Her 32-year album of administrative contributions and smiling memories is chock full. In retirement she makes room for more, vice-chairing a division of the new campaign for Queen's and bringing her talents to the management of Summerhill.
Because she has untangled so many of them, Joyce knows the pathways to the ropes. And although she rarely leaves fingerprints, her deft handling of intricate issues and cryptic conundrums has helped to save the day, and the night, for Principals, Chancellors, Trustees, staff colleagues, faculty members, students, and scores of University visitors.
With this award we honour the warmth, good humour, humanity, and the quiet integrity of a life lived with enthusiasm and purpose, a life of service, distinguished by dignity and concern for others.