AV俱乐部

It鈥檚 an award that celebrates great ideas, initiatives and accomplishments from some of Dal鈥檚 managers and professional staff.

This year, Janice MacInnis of Human Resources and Wendy Fletcher of Graduate Studies were awarded AV俱乐部 Professional and Managerial Group (DPMG) Awards for Outstanding Achievement during the annual DPMG conference on June 11. Highlights of the conference, with the theme of 鈥淥pening Doors to Collaboration,鈥� included a prize draw, and compelling lectures on personality in the workplace, matters of the heart and head and the power of influence.

The DPMG award goes to an individual who displays achievement through particular projects or initiatives. Nominees must demonstrate leadership, consistent performance, a positive impact on the university community. The competition was strong this year, with nominees demonstrating a strong commitment to new approaches and ideas.

Wendy Fletcher is a program and student services officer with the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Part of her focus is helping to attract and support international graduate students. Since 2011, Wendy has travelled to Brazil, Colombia, China and Saudi Arabia on AV俱乐部 recruitment missions. For her trip to Colombia, Wendy was Dal鈥檚 representative with the CALDO, a group of five Canadian universities that have teamed together to help bring Latin American students to Canada. Wendy was instrumental in developing CALDO鈥檚 web presence.

Carolyn Watters, Dal鈥檚 vice-president academic and provost, was dean of graduate studies when Wendy joined the team.

鈥淎s I started, my top priorities included building a higher profile for FGS on campus and in Canada and building international recruiting support,鈥� she says. 鈥淲endy led the team to make these priorities a reality. She brought innovative ideas, great initiatives, team building and leadership that led by doing.鈥�

In addition to her work in recruitment, Wendy has increased contact with newly accepted Dal students, building strong relationships by email and social media. She also organizes September and January orientations, held the first webinars for incoming students and works closely with counterparts at other universities.

The award鈥檚 second recipient, Janice MacInnis of Human Resources, was recognized for her work in organizational health with Employee and Organizational Development.

Janice (left, with Acting Vice-President Finance and Administration Ian Nason and DPMG President Michael Bennett) works hard at promoting healthy values with AV俱乐部鈥檚 staff. She has engaged colleagues from across campus to form the Healthy AV俱乐部 Collaborative, which shares and coordinates efforts to make Dal a healthier university. She also launched the Healthy Workplace Award, which awards specific departments for their commitment to health. The recipients so far have made real聽 efforts to improve all areas of wellness, including environmental and mental. Janice has assisted Faculties and departments by creating strategic plans to provide a welcoming and supporting environment and build relationships. Janice also helps develop AV俱乐部鈥檚 Workplace Survey and works with staff and faculty to implement changes based on their results.

鈥淔ive years ago Janice developed AV俱乐部's first Organizational Health strategy,鈥� says supervisor Jim Neale. 鈥淚t was an ambitious plan with precious few resources to support its implementation. She has capably and resourcefully achieved many of the objectives. She has every right to feel great pride in what she's been able to accomplish and I look forward to seeing where she envisions going from here.鈥�

Janice collaborated on the development of Difficult Conversations videos, a resource for Dal employees that has been adopted nationally in a number of other universities and organizations. She also collaborated in developing comprehensive training for employees and supervisors regarding these videos.

A dedication to health and fostering a positive work environment for staff is evident in the work Janice does.

聽鈥淲ell-being leads to be engaged, and that leads to productivity,鈥� says Janice. When asked about what she鈥檚 most proud of Janice replies, 鈥渕aking people really understand what organizational health is. Organizational culture goes beyond being nice, or [receiving] perks but really making employees feel valued and supported.鈥�

Congratulations to both winners.