Recognizing Remarkable Colleagues–December 2025, Issue 2
We are thrilled by the incredible response to the launch of Recognizing Remarkable Colleagues! In just over four months, we have received a total of 152 submissions.
Because of this tremendous response, we will continue to share submissions through the upcoming issues of Campus Connector. Read the second set of submissions for December (organized in alphabetical order) below.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to share your stories and celebrate your colleagues. It is inspiring to see our community come together to shine a spotlight on the people 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. For more details on the program, including links to past issues and details on how to make a submission, please click here.
Mike LeClair, Maintenance, Facilities Management
Mike goes above and beyond for the campus community every day. He is always willing to jump in and assist with whatever issue that comes up. He always has a smile on his face and makes the best out of any situation. The campus is lucky to have someone like Mike working here!
Richard Lemm, English Department, Faculty of Arts (two submissions!)
Richard Lemm is a long-time faculty member of UPEI who recently retired. His recent “Last Lecture” in Schurman Market Square was standing room only, filled to the brim with faculty, staff, current and former students, and long-time friends and admirers—testament to the impact he has had on this University and the Island as a whole.
First and foremost, he is known for his generosity and positivity. He always makes time for his students and colleagues, sending long and entertaining emails offering feedback on our academic and creative assignments, or congratulatory notes on an accomplishment, or just encouragement if we are finding life and work challenging. He has been a true mentor for so many writers that it’s impossible to count. He is also a founder, working with colleagues to establish UPEI’s Creative Writing program, UPEI’s Writer in Residence program that brings visiting writers to campus to work with our students and community members, and the PEI-Tasmania Writers’ Exchange that saw several Island and Tasmanian writers going back and forth between our two islands to serve as writers in residence. He is a founder of the PEI Writers’ Guild and the PEI Literary Awards, and he worked tirelessly with government to establish the Poet Laureate position and the PEI Book Awards. He is also known for his own award-winning writing—from his comprehensive biography of Canada’s (and PEI’s) “People’s Poet” Milton Acorn to several books of poetry, essays, and memoirs. He has edited and continues to edit anthologies, his most recent being a Christmas anthology slated for 2026 with Acorn Press of Charlottetown. He is well-connected with national and international writing organizations, serving as a board member for several organizations (e.g., the League of Canadian Poets, the Writers’ Union of Canada, and the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia) and has served more than once on Canada Council juries.
Richard has a heart that is big enough to encompass the whole Island, and he wears it on his sleeve. Prince Edward Island and UPEI have been so lucky that he chose this place for his forever home. I cannot think of a more deserving colleague to be recognized in this way. His retirement will leave a huge gap in the UPEI writing community, but I suspect he will continue to write and edit and generally make his wonderful presence known on PEI’s writing scene. And maybe we’ll get to hear him play the saxophone more often! - Laurie Brinklow
Richard continues to inspire new generations of young creative writers. Each year, he has taken on large numbers of honours and tutorial students in unpaid overload classes, and you could see him with groups of them, either downtown at a cafe or in the Fox and Crow, editing, encouraging, and bringing writers together. In this his retirement semester, he gave an absolutely stunning “Last Lecture” in November, and his impact was evident in the numbers of current and former students who came and lined up to tell him how much his mentorship had meant to him: those who couldn’t come—many writers and teachers across the country—made a moving video about the impact his support had made. Himself an influential poet, novelist, and memoir writer in the Canadian literary landscape, Richard Lemm may be retiring, but he plans to continue to support young writers—even beyond his classroom. - Shannon Murray
Krista MacLean, Contracts
Dealing with contracts can be a challenging part of managing partnerships, but Krista is great to communicate clearly and consistently to support people with processes. She provides helpful guidance and patiently explains things that are probably quite repetitive from her vantage. I have also seen her handle pressure to rush things with a lot of grace; it has been very helpful in navigating stressful external pressures like the end of a fiscal year. I suspect her work, being in the background, gets taken for granted a lot, but her contributions are pivotal to many more visible things happening across campus.
Kelly Robinson, SVPRO, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Human Rights
Kelly has worked unceasingly to create and deliver engaging awareness and training campaigns to end sexual violence and gender-based violence within the campus community. She is also an unfailing supportive colleague. Her impact has been to reach an increased number of people on campus and to create a supportive and enjoyable work environment.
Johanna Schneider (Jo), Academic Support Services
Jo is the kindest, sweetest, and thoughtful Writing Centre coordinator that UPEI could ever hope for! She truly cares for the students that the writing centre serves as well as those it employs. You can see the respect and safety she creates in that space. Jo is also amazing to all of the staff and faculty she interacts with.
Snow Clearing Crew, Facilities Management
We have a top-notch snow clearing crew who are here early getting campus cleared and safe for when the rest of us arrive. Thanks for doing such a great job and coming in for early shifts or staying late to keep our campus open and safe.
Virginia Tooker, McDougall Faculty of Business
Virginia consistently leads with a strong student-first approach. She is deeply committed to student support and is always thoughtful about how her work can positively impact students. The events and initiatives she supports provide meaningful fuel and encouragement for students when they need it most. Virginia is always willing to help within the scope of her role and does so with great care, professionalism, and genuine kindness. Her steady support, openness, and dedication make a real difference in the student experience and are greatly appreciated.
MJ Wardle, Blair Gass, Eileen McQuaid-Costello, Karen Younker, and Mandy Fitzpatrick, Facilities Management
This group of people have gone above and beyond in organizing a fundraiser for a staff member that has been out sick. Not only did the support come from Facilities Management but also from departments and individuals all across campus. This group was able to raise over $5,000 dollars! Great job!
Patti Wheatley, SVPRO, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Human Rights
I would like to recognize Patti Wheatley for her steadfast leadership. A lot of changes have happened on campus over the last number of years, and Patti has shown an ability to be flexible and stay involved and engaged through it all. She has a rational approach to her work, with a quiet hopefulness that is part of the foundation of her approach. This style of leadership provides stability to her team, has supported the SVPRO folks to do outstanding work on campus, and helped to ensure the establishment of the Human Rights Office. Congratulations!
