Recognizing Remarkable Colleagues – June 2026, Issue 2

Recognizing Remarkable Colleagues continues to be a meaningful way for our community to celebrate one another. Since the program began last August, 242 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 July 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.

Candice Perry, EDI and Human Rights
Candice brings a compassionate and trauma informed presence, and a commitment to survivor-centered support in all her work.  I appreciate the emotional labour that she carries, the deep experience and empathy she brings to working with those who have been impacted by sexual violence. I am grateful that Candice is here to support the campus community.

Procurement Services End Users
As we wrapped up year-end, I just wanted to take a moment to say a big thank you to our Procurement Services end users. Your patience, attention, and willingness to work through the busy rush really made a difference.

We all know year-end can feel a bit hectic at times, but your responsiveness, understanding, and positive approach helped make things run much more smoothly on our side. It truly doesn’t go unnoticed.

Recognizing Remarkable Colleagues is all about celebrating the people who make a difference day to day—and that absolutely includes all of you. Whether it was getting those last-minute requisitions in, accepting lines on POs, double-checking details, or simply being kind and patient along the way, you helped make the process smoother for everyone.

Thanks again for being such a great group to work with—I really appreciate it! - Sharon McCormack

Shannon Snow, Experiential Education and ELC
I have had the pleasure of working with Shannon on a number of events for the McDougall Faculty of Business, and they are always helpful, and willing to support our requests. Their reliability and approachable attitude make collaboration easy, and they consistently bring thoughtful ideas and positive energy to our meetings. Beyond their support and professionalism, Shannon is a genuine pleasure to be around, and I appreciate everything they contribute to the team and events. Thank you, Shannon!

Sonia Stewart-O'Neill, Dean of Science
I'd like to recognize the outstanding job Sonia has done in helping me onboard into my term role as Administrative Assistant to Dean of Science Nola Etkin. Not only was she juggling two jobs while my position was being recruited during Convocation—a particularly busy time on campus—but she has also been a daily source of information, support, and smiles as I learned the many aspects of this complex role. THANKS, Sonia! - Kelly Mullally

Blair Vessey, IT Systems and Services 
Blair is the human answer to UPEI Artificial Intelligence: his unparalleled institutional knowledge and ability to understand and solve any problem thrown his way is remarkable. He's a real asset to any project he's working on—happy to be working with him again

Martin Watson, Office of Study Abroad and International Collaboration 
Martin has been the coordinator of the Study & Stay PEI program since September 2023. In this role, he shares his time between UPEI, Holland Collage and Collège de l'Île, helping connect international students in their final year of studies with the information and supports to pursue permanent residency (PR) in PEI.

As the coordinator, Martin has worked with hundreds of international students from all around the world, providing up-to-date and relevant information to ease the PR journey. In addition, he has collaborated with many Island immigration partners to provide career pathway information, organized many different social and cultural activities to provide a positive Island experience, and helped connect students with mentors and employers to aid in supporting their PR journey.

Martin’s genuine desire to learn and help students is what makes him so valuable in his role. Anyone who has had the privilege of working with him quickly recognizes his strong commitment to helping students navigate what can be a complex and challenging process, while ensuring they feel informed and supported every step of the way. 

The Study and Stay PEI program has greatly benefited from having Martin’s expertise, dedication, and ongoing curiosity to learn and do more.

Kathy Weatherbie, Development and Alumni Engagement
Kathy always makes time for others, even when her plate is full. No matter the situation, she shows up with unwavering support and helps see you through it. She is kind, genuine, and deeply passionate about her goals. Kathy has a natural ability to bring people together and uplift those around her, she truly is the cheerleader of Development and Alumni!