Each year Lethbridge College recognizes and celebrates employees who go above and beyond to promote our core values of people, excellence and success. Winners are nominated by their colleagues for Service and Innovation, Leadership and Creating Community and Lifelong Learning awards to acknowledge their phenomenal contributions to the college and commitment to the community. This year’s seven recipients will be honoured at the college’s annual Employee Recognition Event on Feb. 29.
Excellence Award for Leadership and Creating Community
Brad Taylor is committed to creating equitable and inclusive learning environments for all students within his centre. He has taken a unique path in his career, spending 15 years as a biologist before becoming an Environmental Science instructor for five years. He then became chair of the School of Environmental Sciences and is now serving as associate dean for the Centre for Justice and Human Services. He says each step in his journey has been an accomplishment in and of itself.
Throughout his time at Lethbridge College his colleagues have recognized Brad as someone who is a strong advocate for people with disabilities. They say without his creative planning and incorporation of appropriate stakeholders, some students would not have been successful in their classroom or practicum environments. Brad was one of the first associate deans to be involved in providing feedback for the Getting Started with Accessibility course in Canvas and was the first person to register and promote it in his area.
“Never once has Brad treated a student situation with a blanket statement, or a quick fix,” says one of his colleagues. “He takes the time to consider each student’s unique situation and needs fully before arriving at a solution to fit their unique circumstances.”
Brad’s colleagues say he exemplifies what it means to have a work-life balance and spends his time hiking, exploring and spending time with his family.
Excellence Award for Leadership and Creating Community
Liz Cernigoy is a role model to those around her through her consistent dedication to excellence and professionalism while seeking effective solutions whether it’s through curriculum adjustments or adapting to challenges with faculty shortages. Liz became a Nursing instructor in 2010 and program chair in the Centre for Health and Wellness since 2019. A lifelong learner, Liz received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Ottawa and her Master of Science in Nursing through Trinity Western University. She is currently completing her PhD in Nursing at the University of Alberta.
Her employment and industry experience helped her develop a creative delivery plan for an After Degree program. She worked with her teaching team to develop a new, condensed version of the course that will require fewer classroom hours while also working with leadership teams at both the college and University of Lethbridge to find ways to deliver the lab components at the college to ease capacities at the university. She also introduced term-certain positions to the centre to provide support during faculty shortages. Many term-certain individuals are working on their master’s degrees and these positions have allowed them to be mentored through their course work and develop skills they can bring into full-time faculty roles in the future.
“Liz has consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic, attention to detail and great collaboration skills,” says one of her colleagues. “She has taken on numerous projects and responsibilities, always delivering high-quality work on time and within budget.”
Liz is a devoted mother, nurse and friend who says she enjoys incorporating engaging strategies into her teaching and working on projects and research that enhance child health and nursing education. When she’s not busy working at Lethbridge College, the University of Lethbridge and the Chinook Regional Hospital, she enjoys spending time outdoors camping with her husband, kids and dog Snickers.
Excellence Award for Leadership and Creating Community
Justin Wynder provides leadership through action, demonstrated through his participation in several college activities like Open House and Exploratory Days, and taking on an additional workload by representing his trade provincially. As the chair of the Electrical and Carpentry apprenticeship programs and a distance learning instructor, Justin stays actively engaged with his departments and faculty. He is a Master Electrician and Red Seal journeyman who has spent 12 years at Lethbridge College.
His colleagues say one of the key attributes setting Justin apart is his ability to inspire others through a combination of vision, creativity and a willingness to take on new initiatives. Justin has personally constructed furniture and equipment in a new electrical lab space, travelled to Edmonton to discuss revisions to the electrical curriculum, and taken on distance education for electricians. He has also mobilized his team to develop and deliver engaging dual credit courses, exploratory programming for students and educators and to map curricular connections between K-12 math and science and the electrical trade.
“Justin’s leadership is a prime example of what our centre values,” says one of his colleagues. “He is all about doing the right thing and being someone you can count on. Whether you’re a student or a colleague, Justin sets the tone with his honesty and reliability.”
Excellence Award for Leadership and Creating Community
Leeanne Conrad is a strong leader who leads with heart and inspires and motivates her team by creating a positive culture and sense of community in all her day-to-day interactions and activities. Leeanne started at Lethbridge College in 2007 as production coordinator in the Marketing and Communications team, before moving up to supervisor and then manager of Marketing and Web Services. Her current role is director of Marketing, Communications, Alumni and Engagement, where she actively goes above and beyond to grow and develop her team.
“She trusts each employee to stretch their capabilities and is always looking for an opportunity for them to grow and advance,” says one of her colleagues. “I have never heard her say something can’t be done, or that someone on her team isn’t the right person for that job or task. Her leadership approach and style make her department and the college a more welcoming and supportive environment.”
Leeanne’s leadership style is one of leading by example and inspiration, using the strengths of each member of her team to give them feelings of worth, personal responsibility and pride in what they do. She finds the most joy in cheering on friends and colleagues as they take centrestage winning more than their share of local, regional and national awards. Leeanne stays active by golfing and participating in Dragon Boat races, where she continues to celebrate those around her outside of the office.
Excellence Award for Leadership and Creating Community
Lisa Kozleski’s love affair with words goes back as long as she can remember. She credits her mom with instilling a lifelong love of reading and stories, which got her off to a great start. And she received a diary on her seventh birthday from her aunt, who encouraged her to “write from the heart, as all true authors do” – and she’s been trying to do that ever since. As the senior writer and editor in the Marketing, Communications, Alumni and Engagement department, Lisa is known as the college’s cheerleader who is always looking for solutions and bright sides.
She started getting paid to write when she was 16, earning $75 a week at the weekly Ute Pass Courier in her hometown of Woodland Park, Colo. She earned a BA from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash., and went on to work at several newspapers of all sizes. After moving to Canada in 2003, she spent seven years teaching academic writing at the University of Lethbridge. In 2011, she joined Lethbridge College as a writer and editor and says getting to create Wider Horizons magazine three times a year – collaborating with talented and inspiring colleagues, students, alumni and friends of the college – is absolutely the best job in the world.
A champion for equity, diversity and inclusion, Lisa has done substantial work with our Indigenous Services team, our elders and other Blackfoot leaders in the community – something that is a source of pride as she learns what it means to live on Blackfoot territory.
A big career highlight was being named Editor of the Year in spring 2020 by the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association. But her dad will tell you her proudest moment in life should be when she got that hat trick in lunchtime floor hockey back in 2015.
Lisa says she is grateful to work with the best team she could have dreamed of, telling great stories about Lethbridge College people, places and ideas. Outside of work Lisa stays active through skiing, hiking and yoga while still making time to sing in a choir, read, cheer on the Kodiaks, travel and spend time with her family and friends.
Excellence Award for Lifelong Learning
Through a continuous pursuit of education, Rosemary Shannon champions a vision of never-ending learning and inquiry. Rosemary has spent the past 25 years at Lethbridge College as an instructor and chair of the Massage Therapy program and continues to embrace opportunities to advance her own learning and achievements, as well as those of others around her.
Recognizing the importance of mentorship as a crucial element of professional practice, Rosemary introduced a valuable mentorship assignment between first- and second-year students during her tenure as the practicum coordinator for the Massage Therapy program. This initiative has proven instrumental in enhancing the skills of both groups. Additionally, Rosemary has been pursuing her Bachelor of Arts Anthropology at the University of Athabasca and is taking part-time university transfer courses at Lethbridge College. She actively advises her students to prioritize professional development and frequently guides them towards furthering their education.
“She is a champion for her students and their success and supports them any way possible to help them become and continue to be great students and great members of the community,” says one of her colleagues. “She firmly believes that education should be lifelong and that we are never too old to learn.”
When she’s not pursuing further academic accomplishments, Rosemary enjoys wheel-thrown and hand-built pottery in her spare time. She says becoming chair of the Massage Therapy program was a highlight of her career and allows her to help move the program forward.
Excellence Award for Leadership and Creating Community
Teri Dyck has served as a thoughtful and reflective voice for the past 10 years as an instructor in the Bachelor of Nursing program at Lethbridge College. Her colleagues praise her for continually exploring ways to improve the delivery of Nursing courses to enhance the learning experience for students. Most notably, Teri has devoted her time to making continuous improvements to a crucial course assignment over the past three years. This has led to a more manageable and authentic learning experience for the students.
Teri says she is inspired by her students. “I love their expressions when the information finally becomes clear,” she says. “Their trajectory from excitement to nervous energy to exhaustion and finally accomplishment always inspires me as an educator. Their motivation and curiosity fuel my own enthusiasm.”
Teri has been a valuable asset to the college, serving as the Lethbridge College Faculty Association representative for the Centre for Health and Wellness for the past four years. Additionally, she has taken on the responsibility of being the faculty representative for the Academic Council during this period.
“Teri has consistently shown unwavering commitment and passion for the wellbeing of both students and faculty,” says one of her colleagues. “Her endeavours have been instrumental in nurturing a sense of community within the centre and foster a supportive environment that promotes collaboration and shared success.”
Outside of work Teri can be found knitting socks, running around Henderson Lake, hiking in the mountains, reading in her hammock or walking her greyhound Arlo.