The winners of the 2025 Dean's Distinguished Staff Awards are Paul Dick (instructional lab coordinator in the Department of Biology) and Melissa Kyrejto (director of undergraduate student services in the Undergraduate Student Office).

Read more about the recipients.

The Dean's Distinguished Staff Award is awarded annually to two outstanding staff members in the College of Arts & Science in recognition of the extraordinary contributions they respectively make to the work they do in support of faculty and students, and fellow staff members.

Staff members nominated for this award will have made significant contributions to their workplace through excellence in overall work performance and quality of service, and will have demonstrated the College values of integrity, diversity, creativity, innovation, knowledge, and personal growth.

Recipients of this year’s awards will be recognized at the May 2025 College of Arts & Science Faculty Council.

Eligibility criteria

The Dean's Distinguished Staff Award is open to any staff member of the College of Arts & Science, including all CUPE 1975 and ASPA members, and Exempt members, with a minimum of two years of service as of the nomination deadline. Employees who have previously received the award are not eligible.

Nomination criteria

Who may nominate?

Any College employee, including staff, faculty and administrators, or any student, may nominate a staff member for the Dean's Distinguished Staff Award.

Dean's Distinguished Staff Award Nomination Criteria

The distinguished staff award criteria are based on the University's and College's core competencies and values of excellence, integrity, diversity, creativity, innovation, knowledge and personal growth.

Nominees need not meet all criteria, but please identify at least three qualities that apply to the candidate.

1. Demonstrates excellence in overall work performance
   • Consistently provides excellence in job performance in their regular duties
   • Exhibits good organizational and leadership skills
   • Shows motivation and desire for excellence
   • Provides exceptional service to clients
   • Demonstrates commitment to the department and the College by performing services beyond the requirements of their job responsibilities
   • Is knowledgeable about the job duties and the University
   • Exhibits high levels of energy and commitment to the department or work unit
   • Contributes to positive and productive work and learning environments
2. Continually contributes to a respectful, diverse, and collaborative work environment
   • Is willing to share their knowledge, skills, and experience with others
   • Treats others with dignity and respect
   • Is a person from whom others seek guidance and advice
   • Builds opportunities through collaboration and partnerships
   • Earns the respect of others through professionalism, teamwork, and contribution to morale
   • Participates willingly and openly supports team or departmental decisions
   • Promotes positive experiences and morale
   • Exhibits a congenial and supportive attitude when providing service to others
   • Interacts with co-workers, students and faculty in a positive, responsive and cheerful manner
   • Values the diversity of the University community, including the people, their points of view, and the contributions they make
3. Demonstrates ability to initiate, implement, and support innovation or creativity and institutional change
   • Addresses problematic situations and suggests creative ways to resolve them
   • Adapts and maintains productivity in an atmosphere of changing practices
   • Demonstrates an optimistic attitude towards change
4. Exemplifies excellence and integrity in workplace relationships, interactions, and decision making
   • Recognizes and gives credit to successes of others
   • Demonstrates integrity and ethical conduct in words and deeds
   • Understands and demonstrates the need for confidentiality and discretion
   • Identifies shared interests to develop positive outcomes
   • Values and considers different points of view before making a decision
5. Is committed to making the university experience a positive one for students
   • Demonstrates commitment to the development of quality programs and/or activities that contribute to students' personal and academic development and/or the university experience
   • Demonstrates commitment to "being there" for students when they encounter personal or academic problems
6. Takes responsibility for personal growth and development
   • Seeks out and appreciates feedback, demonstrating a commitment to learning
   • Shows an interest and effort in continually enhancing skills and quality of work
   • Demonstrated commitment to learning

A nomination must clearly state the nominee's merits and concrete examples of their exceptional performance and distinguished service. Nominations should be made with objectivity and professionalism, and be supported by at least two persons (in addition to the nominator) and by the nominee's supervisor (as one of the two persons, if not the nominator).  

A nomination must include:

• Completed Nomination Information Form (on PAWS) - details the facts supporting this nomination
• One Nomination Letter - Not more than 3 pages maximum addressing the following information:
  1. A brief description of the nominee's job responsibilities
  2. Description of how the nominee meets at least three of the six award criteria.
• Two support letters - 1 page maximum each
  Support letters should come from two of these groups: coworkers, supervisors, faculty, students, or other University of Saskatchewan affiliated employees
• Note: As the Nomination must also be supported by the nominee's supervisor, ensure that the nominee's supervisor provides either the nomination letter or a support letter

Deadline

All nominations should be submitted by April 1, 2025. Nominations received after the deadline will not be considered.

Selection Process

The Nomination Review committee will be appointed by the Dean and include three members who may be from the College or other offices/colleges across the university.

Nominations will be reviewed by the committee using the eligibility and nomination criteria described above. The committee will forward its recommendation to the Dean, who will make the final decision.

The winners of the Dean's Distinguished Staff Award will be acknowledged with a framed certificate in recognition of their special contribution and $1,000 (net of tax).

For further information, contact the Dean's Office at 306-966-4232 or by e-mail at dean.artsandscience@usask.ca.

2018 Deans' Distinguished Award Nominees

2016 Deans' Distinguished Award Nominees

2015 Deans' Distinguished Award Nominees

2014 Deans' Distinguished Award Nominees