尤物视频

For Melanie Monk, stepping into the spotlight is not something she is used to. As associate director, researcher excellence and recognition in Institutional Strategic Awards, Melanie is more accustomed to鈥攁nd passionate about鈥攃hampioning the work of others. It is fitting that after more than 30 years dedicated to advancing SFU鈥檚 mission and advocating for its community, Melanie has earned the SFU Staff Achievement Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Melanie joined SFU in 1992 and held various positions in the SFU Library and Centre for Distance Education before joining the Office of the Vice-President, Research in 2003. For the past 22 years, she has served the SFU research enterprise, including as a communications manager and then as the lead of major external awards.

To boost the recognition of SFU鈥檚 researchers, Melanie has led or facilitated more than 500 award nominations 尤物视频 faculty members, resulting in over 100 awards. This includes 51 Royal Society of Canada fellowships and College memberships and several SSHRC Impact awards, NSERC Fellowships, Bank of Canada Fellowships, Governor General鈥檚 Innovation Awards, CUFA BC Distinguished Academics Awards, and Orders of BC or Orders of Canada. She played a key role in establishing the SFU Research Excellence Awards and coordinating the work of the President鈥檚 Advisory Committee on Awards, Honours and Prizes. Melanie also worked tirelessly to ensure SFU鈥檚 award nomination processes included an equity lens and represented all its diverse communities, and established internal support for several grant programs, including the CRC Robbins-Ollivier Award for Excellence in Equity.

Among her many accomplishments is helping SFU secure major infrastructure funding grants, including $50 million to rebuild the Chemistry Building and $10 million for an SFU Surrey Campus expansion; drafting a successful multi-university incubator proposal; coordinating numerous national funding announcements and other SFU events; writing countless communications to profile SFU research internally and externally; leading the 50 Years of Research and Innovation communications campaign; and assisting with the launch of SFU Innovates.

Throughout her career, Melanie has demonstrated a drive to excel in her profession and beyond, and to freely share resources and knowledge with colleagues and committees. She completed a Master of Education (Postsecondary Educational Leadership) at SFU in 2021,her research focusing on motivations, barriers and supports to researcher development. She is now working towards a Master of Arts in Graduate Liberal Studies at SFU, which she highly recommends for anyone seeking to engage with a diverse community of fellow lifelong learners.

鈥淚t is not an understatement to say that Melanie has transformed the lives of hundreds of people at SFU. She is a positive, collaborative person who genuinely wants people to be recognized for what they have to contribute. She is an inspiration to all who work with her.鈥�

-Nominators Kimberly Sivak and Diane Hanano, Institutional Strategic Awards

We spoke to Melanie about her SFU career.

Congratulations on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. As someone who has dedicated their career to SFU, what does this recognition mean to you?

Thank you! Receiving this award has prompted me to reflect on what feels like several lifetimes at SFU beyond my working life: as an undergraduate student, then a graduate student; as the parent of a child who attended University Highlands Elementary and is now in her third year here; as the partner of a fellow SFU staff member and alumnus; and as a former UniverCity resident.

SFU is now a vastly different institution than when I joined in the early 1990s, but it has retained its core鈥攖hose remarkable individuals behind the scenes who dedicate their time and energy to making it the best it can be. I would like to give a shout-out to the cleaning and food-service workers who never forget a name, the daycare staff who care for children and their frazzled parents, the advisors and counsellors who deftly guide students through challenges, the ASPA team who ensure we feel supported and protected, the volunteers at convocation who make graduands and their families feel valued, the specialists who ensure that SFU upholds the rights and wellbeing of everyone in our community, the postdocs and assistants building their professional and personal futures, and the professors and researchers tirelessly working to advance and mobilize knowledge. It has been my honour and privilege to work alongside you.

In your 30+ year career there must be moments that stand out. Can you share a special memory?

I have so many memories over the years, I can鈥檛 pick just one! Movie marathons with the 鈥橪SRS鈥� club. Laughs and shenanigans with the CDE crew. The annual summer solstice parties at Mike V.鈥檚. Baking treats for the Strand Hall crew. The year we did a Super Mario-themed team costume for Halloween. Dancing the night away at Federico鈥檚.

Fencing classes with my then-boyfriend, now husband. Running around the track to ease my nerves before finals as an undergrad, then running across campus to the daycare as a new parent. Watching band concerts at University Highlands and my daughter giving a speech at the opening of the Trottier Studio. Easter egg hunts and Halloweens at Serenity and hearing the pipe band practice from our deck. Watching pumpkins glow at the Science Spooktacular. White-knuckle rides down Gaglardi Way in the snow and while teaching my daughter to drive in the SFU parking lots. Pitching a Bread Oven @ SFU proposal with my MEd cohort while making bannock. Lunchtime walks with friends, scavenger hunts with Heather, and gym workouts with Rosa.

Sadly, I also have memories of too many friends and colleagues on the 鈥渋n Memorium鈥� list. It reminds me of how happiness at work is all about the relationships we develop while we are here.