New UPEI award honours the late Barb Mullaly
The University of Prince Edward Island is proud to announce the creation of the Barb C. Mullaly Memorial Athletic Award in memory of the late Barb Mullaly, former director of athletics at UPEI.
The inaugural award was presented to third-year science student Kelly Green, a member of the women’s soccer team, at the UPEI Athletic Awards Gala held on Saturday, April 1, 2017. She was selected for the award by Chris Huggan, director of UPEI Athletics and Recreation; the athletics student leadership group; and varsity coaches.
“Kelly is very approachable with a fantastic positive attitude,” said Huggan. “Her trustworthy character, leadership, and mentoring qualities are a shining example to everyone. She is an integral part of the leadership group, which helped create new initiatives for the athletics department. Kelly is a strong, driven individual who holds the highest respect from everyone who knows her.”
Created by Mullaly’s family and friends, former students, and colleagues, the Barb C. Mullaly Memorial Athletic Award is granted to a returning Academic All-Canadian student athlete in their first undergraduate studies program, who displays a positive attitude and the qualities of leadership and mentorship that Mullaly exhibited throughout her university career in education.
“Through the Barb C. Mullaly Memorial Athletic Award, we are honoured to recognize the many great contributions that Barb made to athletics at UPEI during her long, outstanding career,” added Huggan. “Her legacy will live on through this award and the wonderful example she set as a leader in the field of sport.”
“Congratulations to Kelly on being the first recipient of this award created in Barb’s memory,” said Mary Lou Turner, Mullaly’s partner. “Barb’s family and friends are very pleased that the University is honouring Barb’s legacy in this way, and I was excited to be part of the inaugural presentation to a deserving student-athlete and leader.”
Mullaly’s four-decade career as a classroom instructor, coach, and nationally decorated athletic administrator began in 1967 at Prince of Wales College. When UPEI was formed in 1969, she began a long career at the University, initially as the first women’s basketball and field hockey coach. She eventually served as director of athletics at UPEI for 13 years, and then retired in 2006 as the University’s first director of wellness and fair treatment advocate. She passed away in December of 2016 after a brief illness.
Well-respected in the world of academics and athletics, Mullaly understood the competitive nature of sport but also believed that all student athletes need to focus on academics as well as athletics to reach their full potential. She worked to create an environment of fairness and equality, and to ensure that women were in leadership roles.
Mullaly served as president of Atlantic University Sport (AUS), and chaired numerous committees and sports. Upon retirement, she was awarded an honorary lifetime membership in the AUS. She was the long-time chair of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) finance committee and a member of the CIS executive committee. She was awarded the CIS Austin-Matthews Award in 2007 for outstanding service to university sport in Canada over her career.
She was named a Founder of UPEI in 2010. She was also the 2013 winner of the Rotary Club of Charlottetown Royalty’s Mentor Award, which salutes a Prince Edward Islander for mentorship and leadership on the local, regional, and national level. At the time of her death, Mullaly was active in several community organizations, including the UPEI Retirees’ Association.
People who wish to contribute to this award may contact the UPEI Department of Development and Alumni Engagement at 902-566-0615.
The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.
