U of T faculty, staff, students honoured with 2026 Awards of Excellence

The University of Toronto has announced the winners of the 2026 Awards of Excellence, presented annually in collaboration with the U of T Alumni Association (UTAA).

U of T's most distinguished awards program, the Awards of Excellence recognize outstanding and inspiring faculty, staff, librarians and students.

"Your dedication and excellence in your work and scholarship, your spirit of innovation and your commitment to serving others truly set you apart," U of T President Melanie Woodin said in a video message congratulating the recipients. "For nearly two centuries, the University of Toronto has illuminated a path through times of profound upheaval, from World Wars to pandemics to periods of deep economic uncertainty. As we navigate further challenges, we are once again called to meet the moment, and in this, you – our exceptional staff and faculty members, librarians and students – lead the way.

"You inspire the entire university community to strive higher and uphold the very best of U of T's traditions and standards."

Faculty & Staff

Vivek Goel Faculty Citizenship Award

Mayo Moran, Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law

Pekka Sinervo, department of physics, Faculty of Arts & Science

Ludwik and Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize – Influential Leader

Michelle Hladunewich, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the department of medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Carolyn Tuohy Impact on Public Policy Award

Brenda Cossman, Faculty of Law

Joan E. Foley Quality of Student Experience Award

Steven Engels, department of computer science, Faculty of Arts & Science

Northrop Frye Award 

Interdisciplinary Data Science Course Development Team, Faculty of Arts & Science

• Paul Gries, department of computer science

• Adam Hammond, department of English

• David Liu, department of computer science

• Tomomi Parins-Fukuchi, department of ecology and evolutionary biology

• Mary Pugh, department of mathematics

• Nathan Taback, department of statistical sciences

• Michael Widener, department of geography and planning

ISP100 Curriculum Development Team, Institute for the Study of University Pedagogy, U of T Mississauga

• Tyler Evans-Tokaryk   

• Laura Taylor

• Sheila Batacharya

• Mark Blaauw-Hara

• Sarah Seeley   

• Christopher Eaton    

• Jordana Garbati  

• Michael Kaler  

• Nelesi Rodrigues

• Janine Rose

• Mustafa Siddiqui

• Oguzhan Tekin

• Erin Vearncombe

• Jonathan Vroom

• Zhaozhe Wang

• Monique Kampherm

• Kathryn Franklin

• Malisa Zhou

• Mitchell Pedicelli

• Talla Enaya     

Jill Matus Award for Excellence in Student Services

Jade Hazell, Office of the Registrar and Academic Advising, Victoria College, Faculty of Arts & Science

Tai Yip, Accessibility Services, U of T Mississauga

Chancellor’s Leadership Award – Emerging Leader

Paul Tonin, Office of the Vice-Dean Medical Education, Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Chancellor’s Leadership Award – Distinguished Leader

Kerri Bailey, department of medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Chancellor's Leadership Award – Influential Leader

Gwen Burrows, Office of the Vice-President, International

President’s Excellence Award – Emerging Excellence

Aman Chohan, Rotman Commerce

President’s Excellence Award – Distinguished Excellence

Brittany Twiss, Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law

President’s Excellence Award – Influential Excellence

Christopher Lang, Office of the Governing Council

Students

Ludwik and Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize – Emerging Leader

Adam Cox, department of leadership, higher and adult education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)

Adel S. Sedra Distinguished Graduate Award

Gemma Postill, Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Dalla Lana School of Public Health

John H. Moss Scholarship

Armiti Zarbakhsh, Victoria College, Faculty of Arts & Science

UTAA Graduate Scholars

Margaret de Leon, department of leadership, higher and adult education, OISE

Ben Li, Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Karim Mithani, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

UTAA Scholars

Catherine Diyakonov, University College, Faculty of Arts & Science

Benjamin Koshy Jacob, U of T Mississauga

Kaelem Moniz, Trinity College, Faculty of Arts & Science

Nina Yue, Victoria College, Faculty of Arts & Science

Read more about the 2026 Awards of Excellence