Above and Beyond Awards 2026

Above & Beyond Award Recipients (Spring 2026)

Caolan Barr

As a Sessional Instructor in Environmental Studies, Caolan has gone above and beyond in inclusive teaching. As one student noted, "Dr. Barr goes above and beyond to provide a comprehensive and balanced education in political ecology. He covers a broad spectrum of topics, and assigns materials that approach these topics from both academic and journalistic viewpoints. There is an abundance [of course content] by Indigenous authors, particularly women and Two Spirited people. He is an exceptional lecturer and listener, who also goes above and beyond to support students with disabilities."

Paola Beneras 

As an Assistant Teaching Professor in Economics, Paola has gone above and beyond in student engagement and innovative teaching. As one student noted, "Dr. Beneras exemplifies what I wish the world could see of economics as a discipline. She facilitates an economics-adjacent book club several times a month where students from all disciplines can explore economics through a different lens. Paola exposes students to development economics, gender economics, and war economics; all aspects of the discipline often excluded from our textbooks....Beyond the book club, she recently spoke on a panel about the inclusion of women in economics, sits on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee, and even had our class audit the economics department as an assignment, with the goal of using that data to inform policy and improve the department's environment.  Professors like Dr. Beneras make me believe I can do it all. Seeing her go above and beyond on so many fronts while showing up to class with consistent passion, dedication, and intention is reflective of the type of person who represents the values of this award."   

Ashley Berard

As a graduate student and Sessional Instructor in Sociology, Ashley has gone above and beyond in undergraduate teaching for the department's honours program. As one student noted, "Ashley Berard has been an outstanding instructor for the students in the Sociology Honours cohort. Over the course of the past year, Ashley has provided students with endless support, encouragement, and guidance in her role as an instructor, going above and beyond to offer students the personalized attention that they need in order to succeed."

Kelsey Block and Sahr Malalla

As graduate students in Sociology, Kelsey and Sahr have gone above and beyond in knowledge mobilization and community building. As one faculty member noted, "Kelsey and Sahr took it upon themselves to create and implement a department colloquium series....that included presentations by graduate students (both MA and PhD) as well as faculty colleagues. The events have been very well attended and have made a substantive and positive difference in our department."

Noémie Boulanger-Lapointe

As an Assistant Professor in Geography, Noémie has gone above and beyond in community-engaged research and partnership building. As one faculty member noted, "Noémie Boulanger-Lapointe....responded to requests from British Columbia Parks and the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation for an integrative assessment of mountain systems in the South Coast of British Columbia. Over the course of two years, they foster communication between the project partners and 11 faculty members across three academic institutions (University of Victoria, the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University) which led to a successful NSERC Alliance Society grant application....This project went Above and Beyond conventional disciplinary boundaries to produce research that will match the complexities of the questions facing land managers and stewards in the Coast Mountains."

Cadence Carleton

As an undergraduate student in Sociology, Cadence has gone above and beyond in community building and leadership. As one student noted, "during her time as both President and Co-President of the Sociology Student Society, she....consistently poured her energy into organizing thoughtful, well-executed events and ensured that student voices were heard in fair and equitable ways."

Samantha Coleborn

As a graduate student in Psychology, Samantha has gone above and beyond in community engagement. As one student and two faculty members jointly noted, "Sam dedicates countless hours to supporting vulnerable populations across Victoria with compassion, leadership, and humility. At BC Cancer – Victoria, Sam serves as both a Patient Experience and Patient Comfort Volunteer, offering emotional support to patients and families navigating cancer treatment....At MOVE Adapted Fitness, she works one-on-one with individuals with physical disabilities, assisting with adaptive exercise equipment, guiding stretching and mobility routines, and helping foster confidence, independence, and belonging.....As a volunteer first aid responder at major community events—including the Victoria Pride Parade and Sunfest—Sam triages and responds to medical emergencies as part of an interdisciplinary team. Her long-standing work as a tutor for children with learning disabilities and ADHD reflects her deep commitment to accessibility and inclusion. Across every role, Sam demonstrates empathy, leadership, and an unwavering dedication to community wellbeing—consistently going far above and beyond in service to others."

Anastasia Yee-Fan Crook

As an undergraduate student in Political Science, Anastasia has gone above and beyond in community building. As one student noted, "Anastasia Crook has gone above and beyond to support the Pan-Asian community at UVic through her work with the Pacific-Asian Students' Society....Anastasia has given countless hours....to running community-building events such as Mahjong games nights, Karaoke and Food Culture events. Additionally, she has been a powerhouse behind the scenes, applying for grants to support the club, purchasing supplies out of pocket and bringing more people into the fold....Her endless hard work and devotion to her community is inspiring."

Derek Duddridge

As an undergraduate student in Geography, Derek has gone above and beyond in community building with the undergraduate geography community. As one student noted, "as Co-Chair of the Society of Geography Students (SOGS), Derek has provided...opportunities for students that would not otherwise be available to them through the Geography department....He created a geo-guesser tournament bringing together universities from all across BC, facilitated students attendance to the Western Division of the Canadian Association of Geographers conference, and co-led a 3D printing workshop, along with a multitude of social and networking events. He consistently retains a positive attitude (its infectious!) and is always there to support a student in need....He takes extra time to organize and facilitate all of these opportunities for students without asking for anything in return. His dedication to his role and to all Geography undergraduate students goes truly above and beyond."

Isaac Earl

As the Graduate Program Assistant in Economics (and new Dean's Assistant), Isaac has gone above and beyond in graduate program support in Economics. As one faculty member noted, "Isaac is extremely knowledgeable about virtually every aspect of our graduate program. This is extremely helpful as when I am in doubt, I can often double-check with him the best course of action. Not only is Isaac super organized, efficient and reliable, but also he has a good rapport with our graduate students. In multiple occasions, I've seen him interacting with some of them, and he is always extremely professional and caring."

Morgan Farlowe

As an undergraduate student in Psychology, Morgan has gone above and beyond in community engagement, experiential learning, and student mentorship. As one faculty member noted, "as the outreach coordinator for the Curious Minds – Changing Brains (CM–CB) program, Morgan has been instrumental in bringing brain and cognitive science into classrooms and the broader community through hands-on, science-based activities. Over the past 18 months, she has mentored a team of more than 50 outstanding UVic students, equipping them with foundational knowledge in cognitive psychology and neuroscience, with a focus on neuroplasticity, neurodiversity, and metacognition....Through her unbounded energy, intellectual leadership, and deep compassion for others, Morgan has demonstrated that CM–CB is an effective model for advancing cognitive and brain health in the community."

Sean Hier

As a Professor in Sociology, Sean has gone above and beyond in honours supervision and mentorship. As one student noted, "Dr. Hier has been an incredible mentor and resource for all things academic. He has helped shed light on the intricacies of academia (which is especially helpful as a first-gen student), and is more than available to help guide my [honours] thesis."

Eric Higgs

As a Professor in Environmental Studies, Eric has gone above and beyond in student mentorship and service to the campus community. As one student noted, "he is a fantastic mentor to myself and my fellow graduate students. He is always searching for ways to uplift our research and further our careers....Dr. Higgs consistently goes above and beyond contributing to the campus community. He has spent years building relationships with the library which recently culminated in the development of a new high-powered digitization lab, the PIXL Lab....He is working with a multitude of partners, including multiple First Nations and the provincial archives, to use the equipment in support of their objectives related to data preservation, environmental management, and Indigenous resurgence. Dr. Higgs additionally serves on the President’s Search Committee which demonstrates his commitment to improving the campus."

Ryan Hilperts

As an Assistant Teaching Professor and Undergraduate Advisor in Environmental Studies, Ryan has gone above and beyond in faculty mentorship and supporting community-engaged learning. As one faculty member noted, "it's difficult to express how immensely impactful Ryan's mentorship has been to me successfully creating and teaching my first CEL course. Ryan has given very interactive and experiential workshops on leading CEL courses, she co-created the CEL community of practice, and has openly shared resources and built relationships with new CEL instructors....Overall, Ryan embodies the principles of 5 R's (e.g., relationship, reciprocity, respect, relevance, and responsibility) in her teaching and mentorship and in her community building approach among faculty, staff, and students."

Sarah Hunt / Tłaliłila’ogwa

As an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Environmental Studies, Sarah Hunt / Tłaliłila’ogwa has gone above and beyond in Indigenous-informed inclusive teaching. As one student noted, Sarah's "holistic teaching style respectfully informs us of Indigenous territory protocols, including respect and appreciation for the privilege of taking classes in First Peoples House....Dr. Hunt is also exceptionally supportive of students with disabilities, going above and beyond to ensure inclusivity."

Maria Iankilevitch and Jhotisha Mugon

As Assistant Teaching Professors in Psychology, Maria and Jhotisha have gone above and beyond in student mentorship. As one student noted, "Drs. Iankilevitch and Mugon have created meaningful opportunities for graduate students to grow as educators, particularly through the creation of the Psychology Teaching Community of Practice (CoP) for graduate students and other teaching-focused events. The CoP has become an important space for graduate students to reflect on their teaching, share experiences, and learn evidence-based strategies for inclusive and effective instruction....Their dedication to mentorship, collaboration, and inclusive pedagogy has had a lasting influence on graduate students....and the broader teaching culture within our department."

Gilbert Imoesi

As an undergraduate student in Political Science and Economics, Gilbert has gone above and beyond in community building and leadership. As one student noted, "Gilbert is the definition of an outstanding student citizen. Someone who doesn’t just imagine change on campus, but actively works to make it happen. In every space he enters, he becomes an asset, often stepping up to fill multiple roles and wearing many hats with remarkable ease....Simply put, Gilbert is deeply committed to bettering every community he is part of." An academic leader also confirmed that "Gilbert and The African Nexus have done a remarkable job organizing student-led events this year on a wide range of topics of relevance to the social sciences community."

Todd Kettner

As an Assistant Teaching Professor in Psychology, Todd has gone above and beyond in undergraduate teaching and student engagement. As one student noted, "Dr. Kettner shows up to class and holds the attention of everyone in the room, whether in a large lecture hall or a small 400 level class....He is enthusiastic, caring, treats us all as humans who have busy lives doing our best, and as such gives us respect and understanding and grace, and in turn students engage in his classes. It creates a wonderful atmosphere in class....Go listen to him teach – I bet you will find yourself interested in whatever topic he is discussing!"

Tamara Krawchenko

As an Associate Professor in Public Administration, Tamara has gone above and beyond in policy-relevant research and knowledge mobilization. As one faculty member noted, "she has substantially enriched the campus community by organizing more than ten conferences and public talks on climate solutions, local government, Indigenomics, and Ukraine that brought together students, faculty, community partners, and governments. These events created rare opportunities for dialogue, learning, and collaboration that would not exist without her initiative and leadership." As another faculty member stated, "Tamara has been a key part of launching the Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET) initiative. Her boundless energy and strategic insights have been instrumental in both operationalizing the core of ACET through her leadership on the SRA Council, but also working across a multitude of ACET Projects....Her efforts in ensuring ACET success are extraordinary and her commitment to academic excellence with real-world impact truly exceptional."

Loreisa Lepine and Drew Elves

As Sessional Instructors in Environmental Studies, Loreisa and Drew have gone above and beyond in team-teaching and land-based learning. As one student noted, "I felt grateful to have the opportunity to have an Indigenous teacher like Loreisa help me understand the history of the land and first peoples connections to the land, as well as having Drew teaching alongside her with his strong ecology background and clever sense of humour. They are an unstoppable team, and I hope UVIC will take note of the amazing learning experiences they are providing to students. My experience in ER326 is one that will stay with me. I am also amazed by a 'Place of Medicine' and I hope more gardens like this will be created on the campus. Drew and Loreisa are amazing teachers, full stop!"

Evert Lindquist

As a Professor in Public Administration, Evert has gone above and beyond in mentorship of students and early-career faculty. As one academic leader noted, Evert "meets students every week in small groups and provides one-on-one sessions. He is always available to help out other colleagues. He also supervises a large number of students at the MA and PhD levels and provides consistent input and feedback on their work, listens to their concerns and provides academic, professional and (when required), personal advice. His door is always open. And this applies to all of the staff and faculty in SPA as well. He is always available to provide a caring ear or suggestions. He mentors with respect and dignity....he is an exemplary teacher, mentor and role model." 

Rosa McBee and April Vannini

As Coordinators in the Community Engaged Learning Office, Rosa and April have gone above and beyond in supporting faculty to develop CEL opportunities for students. As one faculty member noted, "my CEL course would not have been possible without the work that they do. They connected me with relevant community partners and helped me begin to establish a relationship with these communities. They provided helpful workshops on how to run CEL courses. They also co-created the CEL community of practice, which has been instrumental in building community among CEL instructors as well as sharing resources and ideas for inclusive and ethical practices in teaching CEL courses."

Kinga Menu

As a Senior Lab Instructor in Geography, Kinga has gone above and beyond in mentorship and inclusive teaching. As one staff member noted, "Kinga goes above and beyond as a mentor to her colleagues and a fantastic role model for her students. She inspires curiosity and engagement from students, and is on a first-name basis with most of the BA Geography majors in the department. She designs her labs to maximize student creativity and provides a classroom that is supportive, inclusive and accessible....Current students and alumni stop by ‘just to chat’ and sometimes go out of their way to visit campus just to see her. In these times of rapid change and anxiety, Kinga is a bastion of stability. Kinga goes above and beyond her role in caring for her students and supporting her colleagues, leading to higher enrolment and retention of students in the department and a happier workplace environment."

Ulrich Mueller

As a Professor and Chair in Psychology, Ulrich has gone above and beyond in supervising and mentoring students. As one student noted, "Dr. Mueller consistently goes above and beyond for his students....Dr. Mueller takes time to get to know his students and learn about their interests and goals. He then makes sure his students get to work on projects they are truly interested in. He gives his students independence, allowing them to take initiative and learn how to lead research."

Micah Muller

As an undergraduate student in Political Science, Micah has gone above and beyond in community building and advocacy. As one student noted, Micah is "an outstanding community member through their commitment to uplifting the voices and advocating for all students and community members. In their time at the UVSS, MJ rebuilt the Pride Collective after its dissolution and brought back much needed programming for Queer and Trans students on campus....Because of their efforts, the Pride Collective continues to be a thriving hub on campus."

Felix Pretis 

As an Associate Professor in Economics, Felix has gone above and beyond in supporting student success. As one student noted, "his teaching philosophy is student-focused, in that office hours are a conversation, asking students questions to facilitate active learning. If a student is confused over a formula, he will start where the student’s confusion begins and ask questions to check their understanding. Overall, Felix’s personal and professional manner demonstrate, without reservation, an unwavering and much appreciated commitment to the Economics Department at UVic, and to the Social Sciences Faculty as a whole." 

Bruce Ravelli

As a Teaching Professor and Undergraduate Advisor in Sociology, Bruce has gone above and beyond in undergraduate honours supervision. As one student noted, "Bruce Ravelli has been an outstanding supervisor over the past semester, supporting two sociology honours students alongside his work as an enthusiastic instructor of Sociology 100A and 100B....Bruce always takes the time and energy to invest in his students' ambitions, and it is his unwavering support that gives his students a sense of purpose and passion for the field of sociology." 

James Rowe

As an Associate Professor in Environmental Studies, James has gone above and beyond in inclusive teaching. As one student noted, "James Rowe is an exceptional educator who has created an effective, multi-level approach in response to a broad spectrum of learning styles and disabilities. He has a gift for blending academic education with the spiritual. His assignments can be deceptively simple on the surface, but inspire far-reaching questions that require the student to push themselves in research. He practices what he teaches about mindfulness and compassion, while maintaining academic rigor."

Darian Sernoski

As a Programs Assistant in Public Administration, Darian has gone above and beyond in community building and creating a welcoming workplace environment. As one faculty member noted, "she is consistently available, responsive, and deeply committed to supporting both instructors and students. No matter how busy things get, Darian approaches every request with patience, care, and a genuine desire to help others succeed....She has a remarkable ability to make people feel valued and supported. Darian also plays a special role in building community within the school. Whether it’s Halloween or Christmas, she brings creativity and joy through fun, unexpected initiatives that bring people together and spark laughter. These thoughtful touches make a real difference in our workplace. In every sense, Darian goes above and beyond, supporting learning and teaching, and building a sense of community in the School of Public Administration."

Parker Stenson

As an undergraduate student in Political Science and Pacific and Asian Studies, Parker has gone above and beyond in leadership and community building. As one student noted, "he ran for Vice-President of the Pacific-Asian Students' Society (PASS), revitalizing it into a dynamic organization that connects students across Social Sciences, Humanities, and beyond....[he took] extensive time out of his schedule to coordinate small- and large-scale cultural events, collaborating with CAPI, the UVic Law Students’ Society, the Students of Colour Collective (SOCC), and other clubs to foster meaningful cultural and learning engagement."

Ryan Whetung

As a graduate student in Indigenous Governance, Ryan has gone above and beyond in community building and leadership. As one academic leader and another faculty member jointly noted, Ryan's contributions demonstrate that "leadership is best carried out in ways that cultivate community, disperses power across everyone instead of consolidating power, and draws out and mobilizes the individual gifts and contributions of one another. He creates community amongst his peers by tutoring peers, hosting social gatherings, facilitating study groups and ensures that all are included.  His humor and humility bring a lightness to his guidance that enable others to lean on Ryan for support while he simultaneously builds up their own confidence and trust in themselves and their contributions and knowledge. Ryan leads by example, through the everyday micro-level  interactions that set the tone to how we interact with one another and models relational modes of being steeped in kindness, love and respect."

Afia Zafarullah

As an undergraduate student in Psychology, Afia has gone above and beyond in leadership and community building. As one student noted, "she has strong leadership qualities in leading study sessions as well as leading and creating her own club, Neurofit, which is about raising awareness and helping people find healthy, accessible ways of maintaining a healthy mind."