鈥淎bove and beyond the call of duty.鈥� 鈥淎 door that鈥檚 always open.鈥� 鈥淭here when you need a helping hand.鈥�
It鈥檚 easy to say or write clich茅s and idioms like these; it鈥檚 another thing entirely to live them day-in and day-out.
And yet, there are faculty and staff at Dal doing just every day that to help students succeed. Sometimes, the contributions may seem small 鈥� a quick answer to a question here, a phone call there 鈥� but at other times the work may be life-changing. The support these individuals offer may not always be highly visible, but it certainly doesn鈥檛 go unnoticed.
Each year, AV俱乐部 presents the Rosemary Gill Award to up to four such individuals who provide truly outstanding support to students in capacities other than teaching. The award takes its name from the late Rosemary Gill, a Dalhouise Medical School graduate who served as director of University Health Services from 1985 to 1991 and exemplified a high level of service to students.
This year鈥檚 recipients play a variety of different roles: assistant dean, associate director, department admin, graduate coordinator. They were nominated for the award by different individuals and groups across campus. Yet there鈥檚 a striking similarity to their stories: in every case, their nominations included letters from students who鈥檇 been through challenges, from the small to the earth-shattering, and found in a Dal staff or faculty member not just help and support, but a true ally and advocate.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e stories about people who have made the extra step to connect with our students, to help and assist them,鈥� said President Richard Florizone, who presented the awards. 鈥淚t鈥檚 truly inspiring.鈥�
Monique Comeau, Department of Economics
Starting at university can be tricky: where to go, what courses to register, how to find what you鈥檙e looking for. For Economics students, Monique, the department鈥檚 administrator, has been there to help for nearly three decades.
鈥淢onique is really the face of the department,鈥� wrote one of her nominators. 鈥淲hen new faculty and staff members arrive at the Department of Economics, they will talk to Monique for guidance. When new students arrive at Maxwell House of the Department of Economics, they will ask Monique for advice on almost every conceivable matter.鈥�
鈥淚 like helping students,鈥� says Monique. 鈥淲hether it鈥檚 registering for classes, or getting into full classes, or having issues with visas鈥� it鈥檚 great to be able to offer help.鈥�
Cited for her friendly manner and attention to detail, as well as initiatives like helping acquire better work space for grad students, it鈥檚 clear from the glowing letters of support that Monique makes a huge difference in the lives of her students.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an honour,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檝e worked at AV俱乐部 a long time and met a lot of students, and that they would do something like this for me is quite touching.鈥�
Eileen Denovan-Wright, Department of Pharmacology / Faculty of Graduate Studies
To say that Eileen鈥檚 contributions to student life in the Department of Pharmacology are varied would be an understatement. They range from something as sprawling as a complete overhaul of the department鈥檚 graduate student procedures and requirements, to simply offering up a set of wheels.
鈥淒r. Donovan-Wright has often taken time out of her personal time to drive students to stores to get supplies for events,鈥� wrote one nominator, 鈥渁nd has volunteered to help run events when students and staff have not been responsive to calls for help.鈥�
Eileen has been a faculty member at Dal since 1996. From 2007 until 2013 she served as the department鈥檚 graduate coordinator and now she鈥檚 associate dean of the Faculty of Graduate studies. Her students credit her with being a key part of the department鈥檚 tight-knit community, noting her fair mindedness and strong mentoring.
鈥淚鈥檓 really lucky,鈥� she says, about the award. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of students, but they all have their own story, and to be a small part of any of their stories is really touching.鈥�
She says working with students is so enjoyable that often it barely feels like work: 鈥淚t鈥檚 brand new every time. No matter how old they are, they鈥檙e starting something. They鈥檙e exploring knowledge, exploring who they are, and the potential is unlimited.鈥�
Susan Mansour, College of Pharmacy
When students give you a nickname like 鈥淢omma Mansour,鈥� that says an awful lot.
Susan has been with the College of Pharmacy for over 20 years. She鈥檚 currently the college鈥檚 associate director of undergraduate education, but starting July 1 she鈥檒l be its new director. She鈥檚 a celebrated teacher, with several awards to her name, but the Rosemary Gill Award celebrates her incredible support for students outside of the classroom.
Several of the students who nominated her have been through incredible challenges in their personal and academic lives: health issues, deaths, career crises, hardships of the heart. And time and time again, Susan has been聽 there, with words like 鈥渃ompassionate,鈥� 鈥渃alming,鈥� 鈥渆mpathetic鈥� appearing in the nomination letters time and time again.
鈥淚 knew I could talk to her at any time and I cannot thank her enough for her kindness and caring attitude,鈥� wrote one of her nominators.
鈥淚 think an award like this, it just means more than any other,鈥� says Susan. 鈥淚 love being able to help [students] achieve their goals, to help them succeed, and to see them mature and grow and achieve their full potential.鈥�
David Matthias, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
鈥淚 routinely attempt to rename [David鈥檚] job title from 鈥榓ssistant dean, student matters鈥� to 鈥榓ssistant dean, students matter,鈥� writes Robert Summerby-Murray, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), 鈥渁s I am convinced that is a more accurate description of his work.鈥�
Regardless of the title, David has played an important role within FASS since 2009. He鈥檒l meet with literally hundreds of students over the course of the year, whether it鈥檚 about appealing an academic dismissal, dropping classes due to personal or family emergencies, or returning to school after time away. David鈥檚 a visible force within FASS, working closely with the AV俱乐部 Arts and Social Sciences Student Society to implement initiatives like the Peer Partnership Program and FASS鈥� popular orientation event.
One student nominator, who recalls her nervousness about working with the dean鈥檚 office for the first time, was reassured by a peer, 鈥淒on鈥檛 worry, you鈥檒l be working with David, it鈥檚 going to be great.鈥� And it was.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very gratifying,鈥� says David, about receiving the award, 鈥渂ecause I know how many people do similar work like I do across campus, who are making significant contributions to student service and helping students achieve their degrees and cope with difficulties.鈥�
He says convocation is a particularly proud moment each year.
鈥淚 serve as head marshal at our Faculty鈥檚 convocation, so I actually am there ushering them literally up on the stage. For some students, it feels like I鈥檝e been doing that for most of my degree; it鈥檚 great to be there for them then.鈥�