Recognizing Remarkable Colleagues–May 2026

Recognizing Remarkable Colleagues continues to be a meaningful way for our community to celebrate one another. Since the program began last August, 225 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.

Jenny Alisic, Human Resources
Jenny is the quiet force behind hundreds of employees receiving their bi-weekly pay. Most individuals don’t think about how they get paid —they are just happy to receive their bi-weekly pay in their bank account. While Jenny does not do this alone, she provides a deep understanding of UPEI payroll and many of the idiosyncrasies that need attending to. Jenny is always pleasant and deeply cares about UPEI and its people. - Tara Leigh Judson

Rose Barbour, Development and Alumni Engagement
Rose has an incredible gift for making others feel truly seen, heard, and appreciated. Whether it’s work-related or personal, she takes the time to understand and always follows through to ensure people are okay. Her warmth and sincerity have a way of turning even the toughest days around. She is genuinely lovely, a true gem on our team.

Thomas Becker, Athletics and Recreation
Thomas is an outstanding storyteller and an integral team member of the department of Athletics and Recreation who always makes us shine! He spends endless hours creating content for the Panther Athletics channels, which amplifies our athletes’ stories and team results to the campus community, PEI community, and beyond. Thomas spends hour upon hour creating content for our year-end Panther Celebration which highlights team and individual successes of the year. He does it all behind the scenes with a huge passion for the Green and White and we are forever grateful for his outstanding commitment. - Jane Vessey

Susan Fitzky, EDI and Human Rights
Susan brings forward talents to her work that are admirable. I also appreciate how she works with her colleagues in a meaningful and thoughtful way that contributes to their well-being and professional development.

Bethany Vessey, Applied Human Sciences – Faculty of Science
I would like to recognize Bethany for her dedication to students within the Dietetic Internship Program at UPEI and beyond. Her genuine passion for dietetics is evident in the meaningful way she teaches, mentors, and supports students throughout their learning journey.

Bethany consistently goes above and beyond to create diverse and enriching learning opportunities that respond thoughtfully to the needs of each student while also advancing the goals of the program. Her commitment to student success is reflected in the care and attention she brings to mentorship, fostering both confidence and professional growth among interns.

What truly sets Bethany apart is her willingness to continuously evolve and strengthen the internship program. She approaches change with openness and initiative, even when it requires additional time and effort on her part. Her forward-thinking mindset and dedication to improvement have made a lasting positive impact on the program.

Bethany is also a great collaborator—approachable, supportive, and always open to new ideas. Her collegial spirit makes her a pleasure to work with, and she plays a key role in building a positive and productive team environment. Bethany’s contributions are deeply valued, and her ongoing commitment makes a meaningful difference to both students and colleagues at UPEI.

Patti Wheatley, EDI and Human Rights
I feel very valued and supported by Patti and I admire her integrity, ability to manage so many things at once, handle stress, problem solve, and get the job done. I appreciate her openness to understanding a different point of view and her logical processing and decision making. She is such a gift to the University.