Meet SFU's 2024 Staff Achievement Award Recipients

Griffin Tedeschini | Portfolio Manager, Strategic Projects | IT Services

Griffin has had a profound impact on fostering a culture of safety and inclusion at SFU. Their strategic leadership in the university’s first demographic & diversity data survey, technical guidance to improve IT solutions for trans and nonbinary community members, and development of training sessions to improve 2SLGBTQIA+ allyship has made SFU a more welcoming place for all.

Tess Williams | Systems Consultant | Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences

Through her dedicated advocacy and leadership, Tess has directly improved institutional support and resources for marginalized communities at SFU. Her tireless efforts on key initiatives such as the Trans Equity Survey, Trans Equity Pod with SFU’s EDI Community of Practice and securing gender affirming care coverage with Pacific Blue Cross have created lasting change within the university and beyond. 

Gabrielle Acuña | Group Leader, Metadata & Prep | SFU Library

Gabrielle’s exceptional problem-solving and technical expertise with the SFU Library make her highly deserving of this year’s Innovation award. Her groundbreaking work on Indigenous classification systems have transformed the Indigenous Curriculum Resource Centre (ICRC) and drawn attention from libraries across North America as a model for decolonizing cataloguing practices.

Sarah Mallen | Manager, Civil Trades & Projects | Facilities Services

Sarah’s people-first approach to leadership has transformed team culture and engagement within Facilities Services. Her genuine care for her team and prioritization of her their well-being has made a profound difference for performance and morale. Sarah’s leadership has led to significant operational improvements and service enhancements for the entire SFU community.

Melanie Monk | Associate Director, Research Excellence & Recognition | VP Research & Innovation

Melanie’s singular career has played a pivotal role in elevating SFU’s research profile. Over two decades under the portfolio of the Vice-President, Research, she led hundreds of prestigious award nominations for researchers, contributed to securing millions in grants and awards, and wrote countless communications showcasing SFU research. Melanie’s tireless advocacy for the research community will leave an indelible mark on SFU.

Developer Team | Digital Humanities Innovation Lab (DHIL) | SFU Library 

Members: Joey Takeda, Andrew Gardner

The DHIL Developer team’s innovative digital expertise has led to groundbreaking work, allowing researchers to engage with digital tools in new and meaningful ways that have resulted in international recognition for the university. Through their technical excellence, dedication to mentorship, and commitment to advancing digital research, the DHIL Developer Team has made an extraordinary contribution to SFU and the broader research community.

Organizational Health Office

Team Members: Flavio De Souza Medeiros, Juliet McEwen, Angela Stolee, Raveena Sangera, Dawn Barroso, Jackie Davie

The OH team enhances employee well-being through compassionate support, tailored return-to-work plans and equity-focused policy development. They ensure trauma-informed procedures, advocate for marginalized communities and foster strong campus partnerships. Their ability to in handle sensitive and complex situations with empathy and confidentiality have made them a trusted resource across the university, contributing to an overall culture of inclusion and belonging at SFU.

Stacey Fujimoto | Manager, Administrative Services | Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences

Stacey has been a vital support to the Dean’s executive team, providing stability and guidance during times of transition and crisis. Her colleagues consistently praise her compassionate leadership style, describing her as a mentor and role model who genuinely cares about her team’s well-being. Her dedication, resilience and exceptional service make her highly deserving of the Workplace Excellence award.

Liam Goundrey | IT Technician | IT Services – Surrey Campus

Over the past 7 years at SFU Surrey, Liam has led major audiovisual projects, mentored a number of student technicians and consistently gone above and beyond. Whether assisting team members, improving campus technology or ensuring high-quality service, Liam’s exceptional work ethic and genuine care for his colleagues have made a profound impact on the Surrey campus.

Laurence Lee | Computer Systems Administrator | School of Resource & Environmental Management

For more than 30 years, Laurence has provided exceptional service, technical expertise and an unparalleled commitment to supporting REM faculty, staff and students. His dedication, patience and calm demeanour in the face of technical emergencies make him an invaluable member of the REM community and thoroughly deserving of the Workplace Excellence Award.

Erin Legros | Senior Advisor, Faculty Affairs | Faculty of Science

Erin has provided a decade of outstanding service to SFU, guiding faculty through hiring, tenure, and policy processes with expertise and clarity. Beyond her in-depth technical knowledge, she is described by colleagues as having a compassionate and collaborative nature that has had a transformative impact on the Faculty of Science’s success.