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Celebrating staff who inspire, support and serve

Posted by Nicole Maunsell on June 14, 2019 in Awards

Acting Dean Vivian Howard (left) and Assistant Dean Anna Cranston (right) with award winners JoAnn Watson, Gillian Fowler, Heather Frausell and Jennifer Oxenham.


This May, the Faculty of Management celebrated four recipients of the second annual Staff Recognition Awards. The awards were established as a part of Management strategic pillar 2.3, which aims to recognize contributions of students, staff and faculty. Anna Cranston, assistant dean, coordinated the award nomination and selection process, along with a selection committee comprising members of the dean’s executive and last year’s recipients.

The 2019 recipients

Impact Award for Supporting Colleagues: Recognizes a staff member for professionalism, collaboration, creativity and initiative in supporting faculty and staff colleagues in achieving their goals.

Recipient: Jennifer Oxenham, financial manager

Jennifer Oxenham is well-known to her colleagues as someone who can help make sense of complicated financial processes, saving them time and frustration. As the faculty’s budget officer, she supports researchers, directors and staff members across the faculty in managing and accessing their accounts.

“Her impact has been nothing short of transformative,” says Michelle Adams, who nominated her for the award. “She tirelessly does her work with patience, competence and grace, doing anything she can to help those who come to her for advice.”

Impact Award for Supporting Students: Awarded to a staff member who demonstrates excellence and professionalism, actively pursuing opportunities to expand knowledge and skills in the field of student service.

Recipient: JoAnn Watson, MI (formerly MLIS) program co-ordinator, faculty academic integrity co-ordinator

JoAnn Watson is the first point of contact for students applying to the MI program, and she manages their experience throughout their studies: planning orientation, co-ordinating practicum placements and advising students. She is also the faculty’s academic integrity co-ordinator and created the systems and processes that ensure that academic integrity cases are handled confidentially, efficiently and with sensitivity.

“JoAnn has had a significant impact on the student experience at SIM and across the faculty,” says Sandra Toze, who nominated her. “She is thoughtful, reflective and effective, demonstrating a high standard of professionalism in all she does.”

Impact Award for Service to Community: Awarded to a staff member who demonstrates creativity and initiative in pursuit of enhancing the Faculty of Management’s reputation and service to external partners.

Recipient: Heather Frausell, Corporate Residency MBA admissions co-ordinator

As the admissions co-ordinator, Heather Frausell represents the Corporate Residency MBA program to prospective students and influencers such as student advisors, GMAT instructors, alumni and employers. Her nominators note that she displays innovative ideas for recruitment that connect students with alumni. She also works to foster community within the faculty through events such as the faculty-wide pancake breakfast which she helped execute.

"Heather’s determination to improve student experience is an example of inspirational leadership.” says Sarah Hayes, who nominated her. “She demonstrates unwavering dedication in the face of personal challenges and professional adversity.”

Inspiration Award:  Recognizes a leader who promotes a respectful workplace, displays a positive attitude and inspires others to work collaboratively, contributing innovative ideas which encourage out-of-the-box thinking.

Recipient: Gillian Fowler, acting operations manager, Management Career Services

Gillian Fowler has been the acting operations manager for Management Career Services since January 2018. She oversees the administration of the office, trains and onboards new team members and develops and documents policies and procedures. She played a key role in securing accreditation from CEWIL Canada for the Bachelor of Commerce Co-op program, Bachelor of Management Internship program and Corporate Residency MBA program earlier this year.

“Gillian’s unwavering commitment to not only supporting the Management Career Services team but to ensuring its processes, policies and systems consistently meet and often exceed the ever-changing needs of our student and employer client groups is inspiring,” says Andrea McKay, who nominated her. “She is a true team player who seeks to be inclusive and consultative in order to achieve the most efficient and effective results for our team and those we serve.”