Recognizing Remarkable Colleagues—February 2026, Issue 1

Recognizing Remarkable Colleagues continues to be a meaningful way for our community to celebrate one another. To date, 179 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 the 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. 

Jenni Dumont, Academic Affairs, Faculty of Medicine  
Jenni has supported the Faculty of Medicine through her work in the admissions section of academic affairs but has also recently undertaken various stretch assignments to support other priority initiatives with respect to the program development within the faculty. Jenni approaches all of her work with the same detail-oriented and responsive attitude, always working to achieve high results with a strong sense of accountability and accuracy in her work, and she does it all with a friendly smile. Jenni brings to any team a thoughtful and thorough approach that she carries out with utmost respect and attention for her work and for her colleagues. 

Ana Mendes Garcia, Experiential Education/English Language Centre
Ana works in both Experiential Education and the English Language Centre. Ana consistently seeks out information, asks thoughtful questions, and takes the time to fully understand processes, needs, and expectations. This strength benefits both departments, as her inquiries often help uncover gaps, clarify assumptions, and improve overall workflows. Once she has a solid grasp of a task or project, Ana is highly self‑directed, efficient, and reliable. She has a genuine interest in learning, building relationships, and contributing meaningfully to her teams. Her natural helpfulness and positive rapport with both staff and students make her a valued colleague. Ana is truly a pleasure to work with and learn from. 

Donna Lawless, Office of the Vice-President Academic and Research, and Cecia Huang, Office of the Registrar 
Please recognize two of the many AMAZING admin staff on the UPEI campus. Both Donna and Cecia are such great resources for information, advice, and help around campus. They are both doing such great work in very busy and demanding environments. They are both also always happy to help out when other admins, other staff, faculty, or students need their help. I don’t think we do enough recognition, acknowledgement, or thanking for the very important work that these and all UPEI admins do—without them this University could not function and educate its many wonderful students. 

Emma MacLean, Counselling and Academic Support Services, Office of the Associate Vice-President, Students 
Please recognize the great work of Emma MacLean. She started as the admin for the Counselling and Academic Support Services units on January 28, 2026, and already she has excelled in that role! She is so quick to learn and to offer to help students and her colleagues. She has such a welcoming and approachable attitude. The Counselling and Academic Support units are lucky to have her as part of their team! 

Marven MacLean, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Atlantic Veterinary College  
A client was transporting their horse to the AVC for emergency surgery when, unfortunately, they were in an accident. The trailer was destroyed, and the horse and its owners were stranded. At 1:00 am, despite dangerous road conditions, Marven drove to New Brunswick, picked up the horse, and brought it to the AVC, where it received care. This is truly an example of going above and beyond to provide excellent care to our patients and their owners. 

Grace McCourt, McDougall Faculty of Business 
I would like to recognize Grace McCourt for her outstanding commitment to the success of the MBA program. Her dedication is evident in the thoroughness and attention to detail she brings to every task, ensuring our work is completed with exceptional care and accuracy. Grace’s upbeat, positive attitude brightens everyone’s day and contributes to a welcoming and collaborative environment for faculty and students alike. She is approachable, easy to talk to—both professionally and personally—and always willing to take part in whatever activity or initiative is underway. We in the McDougall Faculty of Business truly appreciate Grace’s hard work, enthusiasm, and unwavering support of the program, the department, and the staff, faculty, and students. 

Steff Taylor, McDougall Faculty of Business 
Steff has been an outstanding addition to the McDougall Faculty of Business. She consistently brings positivity and a smile to every day, and the expertise she gained during her time in the Registrar’s Office and other departments on campus has been invaluable to the smooth operation of our department. Always proactive and professional, Steff is quick to jump in and offer support wherever it’s needed, and she is very supportive of both colleagues and students. She and Virginia make an exceptional team when it comes to student advising, providing our students with thoughtful and effective guidance. And when it comes to holiday spirit—look no further than Steff! Her enthusiasm and creativity brighten every celebration. 

MJ Wardle, Facilities Management 
MJ recently returned as the cleaner for Dalton Hall, and we are so happy to have her back! MJ is such a hard worker and does an amazing job of keeping our high traffic building safe and clean. She always has a smile on her face and is so pleasant to work with. We are happy to have you back, MJ!