Recognizing Remarkable Colleagues–August 2026

Recognizing Remarkable Colleagues continues to be a meaningful way for our community to celebrate one another. To date, 273 submissions have highlighted the exceptional work, dedication, and kindness of our colleagues. 

Thanks to the ongoing interest and participation, submissions will continue to be featured in upcoming issues of Campus Connector. You can read this month’s submissions (organized in alphabetical order) below. 

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share stories of appreciation and celebration for their colleagues. It’s inspiring to see our community come together to recognize those who go above and beyond every day.

Submissions for next month are now open! Share your note of recognition by the last Friday of the month, and let’s continue celebrating the amazing colleagues who make our campus shine. 

As part of our continued efforts to grow and improve this program, we’ve introduced a new submission form. With this updated process, the colleague being recognized will automatically receive an email notification that they have been recognized and will appear in next month’s Recognizing Remarkable Colleagues issue. For more details on the program, including links to past issues and details on the new submission form, please click here.

Alf Blanchard, Development and Alumni Engagement
I’d like to recognize the great work Alf is doing in his role as a Development Officer and highlight the many strengths he brings to our team.

Alf is a genuine and true champion of all things UPEI. He pours his heart into our mission and has a strong ability to build meaningful relationships with alumni and donors through his personable approach. He is very thoughtful in his interactions, responsive to donor needs, and focused on building relationships that create lasting and positive connections with the University. Alf’s work has also resulted in securing some significant major gifts in support of UPEI, making a meaningful impact on our students and the University’s priorities! Alf is always willing to raise his hand and support his colleagues, and that is deeply appreciated! He is someone we all can count on to move things forward, contribute ideas, and work as an integral part of our team.

Alf, thank you for the energy and commitment you bring. Your work is making a real contribution to the betterment of UPEI. It does not go unnoticed and is greatly appreciated! - Kathy Weatherbie

Lacey Cobb, Human Resources
Lacey consistently demonstrates excellence in her role by going above and beyond to support both employees and colleagues. Her exceptional customer service, strong attention to detail, and deep knowledge make her a go-to resource for the team. She is always willing to share her expertise, contributing significantly to the success of those around her.

Patrick Davis, Clinical Learning and Simulation Centre
Pat Davis, Simulation Program Assistant Manager within the Clinical Learning and Simulation Centre (CLSC) at the Faculty of Medicine, is a remarkable colleague.

Pat is an Advanced Care Paramedic who brings extensive clinical experience, professionalism, and a genuine passion for health-care simulation to his role at the CLSC. He consistently goes above and beyond to support the many learners, faculty, health-care professionals, and partners who use the Centre. Regardless of how busy the day may be, Pat is always willing to step in, solve a problem, answer a question, or provide whatever support is needed to help ensure a successful simulation experience.

What particularly stands out about Pat is the way he works with people. He is friendly, kind, approachable, and always willing to help. He treats everyone who comes through the CLSC with respect and makes people feel welcome and supported. His positive attitude and willingness to go the extra mile contribute significantly to the collaborative and supportive environment we strive to create within the Centre.

Kristie Duncan, Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Kristie goes above and beyond to keep the VTH Dispensary on track and to help her fellow employees.

Ross Dwyer, School of Climate Change and Adaptation
Ross always goes over and above to accommodate requests to tour the Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation, even when it means meeting visitors after regular operating hours or when there is not necessarily a direct connection to climate change and adaptation work. Whether it’s seniors’ groups or international dignitaries, unofficial or official, Ross is at the ready to facilitate, lead, and ensure researchers and graduate students are available to speak about their work during the tour, all in an effort to highlight the Centre and UPEI. Recently, he hosted an Ambassador to Canada, whose delegation requested a tour of the facility at 4 pm on a Friday afternoon! Thanks, Ross, for your dedication to UPEI! - Nicole Phillips 

Jason Ellsworth, Faculty of Medicine 
Jason is truly a remarkable colleague whose leadership, expertise, and genuine care for others have had a lasting impact on the Faculty of Medicine. As the Manager of Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME), Jason played a pivotal leadership role in guiding the PGME Institutional Accreditation process, a complex and high-stakes undertaking that required exceptional organization, strategic thinking, and collaboration. His dedication, attention to detail, and deep knowledge ensured that this important work moved forward successfully while inspiring confidence in everyone involved.

What makes Jason especially remarkable is that he pairs professional excellence with an outstanding commitment to people. He is approachable, friendly, and always willing to help. Whether answering questions, sharing expertise, or offering encouragement during challenging projects, Jason consistently makes colleagues feel supported and valued. His kindness, professionalism, and willingness to go above and beyond make him an invaluable member of the Faculty of Medicine and a truly deserving recipient of recognition.

Jason makes the workplace better for everyone around him, and it is a privilege to work alongside him. - Rebecca Gill

Ana Lucia Mendes Garcia, Office of the Associate Vice-President, Students
Please recognize the excellent work of Ana Lucia Mendes Garcia, Experiential Education. She is so helpful and kind to students and staff alike. She is always on top of things and willing to help others. Her unit and all of Dalton Hall are lucky to have her as a member of the team! 

Faith Phillips, Development and Alumni Engagement
Faith is a remarkable colleague at UPEI because she consistently supports our alumni with professionalism, warmth, and a genuine commitment to strengthening relationships with them. She brings a thoughtful, detail-oriented approach to her work, communicates clearly, and reliably goes the extra mile to ensure events, outreach, and follow-ups run smoothly. Her positive attitude and teamwork make a meaningful difference to both her colleagues and the alumni we serve. - Bruce Donaldson

Wendy Weeks, Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Wendy’s  work is the lifeblood of AVC’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH). The VTH runs on an electronic medical system that has many quirks and frequent outages, and the one person who can fix these is Wendy. The level of professional service that she provides is second to none. Since the VTH functions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the electronic platforms that we use are in non-stop use. This means Wendy is in constant demand. Every X-ray that is taken, every prescription that is written, every document that is generated depends directly on Wendy’s ability to troubleshoot. Wendy does this without fail, and always without judgment, even with the simplest or most obvious issues. She is the personification of expertise and efficiency, and I can’t think of a single time where a problem with our electronic infrastructure or software wasn’t fixed quickly and optimally by her. This is all in addition to the normal operations of systems and software (management, upgrades, etc.) that Wendy oversees so effectively. I would like to be as good a teacher as Wendy is an electronic engineer. - Etienne Côté

Linda Worth, Human Resources 
Linda is a valued member of our payroll team. Her professionalism, technical expertise, and dedication make her someone the team can always count on. She consistently goes above and beyond to resolve complex issues and support her colleagues whenever needed. Linda’s reliability, strong work ethic, and attention to quality make her an important part of our team’s success. Her knowledge is highly respected, and many colleagues turn to her for guidance and support.