CivMin has four staff members among the 11 U of T Engineering recipients recognized for citizenship, leadership, innovation and contributions to the student experience
Eleven outstanding staff members at U of T Engineering have been recognized by the faculty with Administrative Staff Awards. These awards acknowledge exceptional staff for their citizenship, leadership, innovation and contributions to the student experience.
“Our administrative staff members provide vital support and leadership in advancing our faculty’s mission and I’m grateful for the opportunity to recognize their achievements,” says U of T Engineering Dean Christopher Yip.
“Congratulations to the awardees, and my heartfelt thanks to all our staff members for their incredible contributions.”
The Administrative Staff Award recipients within CivMin are:
Shayni Curtis Clarke, Undergraduate Student Advisor
Agnes Kaneko Citizenship Award
Recognizing a staff member who has served with distinction and made contributions to the faculty’s mission above and beyond their job description over a long period of time.
Curtis Clarke joined U of T Engineering as a graduate assistant in 2005 and advanced through multiple positions in CivMin before taking on the role of undergraduate academic advisor in 2013.
Throughout this time, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to student success and to the broader faculty community. Curtis Clarke’s contributions extend well beyond her advising responsibilities. She is a trusted mentor to both academic and administrative staff, generously offering guidance and perspective to colleagues at all stages of their careers. Her collegiality and collaborative spirit contribute to a positive, inclusive and supportive working environment for staff and faculty alike.
Curtis Clarke has served as a key resource on both the FASE Scholarships Committee and the FASE Undergraduate Assessment Committee for approximately 15 years. In those roles, her thoughtful and principled contributions have helped ensure fairness, clarity and continuity in faculty-level decision-making. She has also served on the Joint Task Force on Academic Advising & Mental Health, where her insights have supported our commitment to student well-being. Curtis Clarke received the Barbara McCann Quality of Student Experience Award for Frontline Staff in 2020.
Michelle Deeton, Director, Finance & Administration
Catherine Gagne Sustained Excellence in Leadership Award
Recognizing a staff member who has demonstrated leadership in supporting the faculty’s mission over a sustained period.
Deeton has demonstrated exceptional leadership in supporting and advancing the faculty’s education and research missions for more than a decade. Since joining U of T Engineering in 2015, she has taken on roles of increasing responsibility, from acting director, office of the Dean to her current position as director, finance & administration in CivMin. Across these roles, Deeton has continuously improved administrative systems, financial oversight and operational processes that directly enable the success of our students, faculty and staff. She also mentors and supports her team with a deep commitment to excellence, integrity and inclusion.
Deeton ensures staff feel valued and empowered to develop their own skills and careers, and her leadership fosters trust and confidence across CivMin and the faculty. Deeton’s contributions extend well beyond her job requirements — she is a committed citizen of the faculty, offering her expertise, mentorship and support to colleagues across U of T Engineering. Her dedication and professionalism make her an invaluable member of our community. On receiving this recognition, Deeton commented that she considers it a great privilege to work in U of T Engineering and CivMin alongside her colleagues.
Colleen Kelly, Graduate Programs Coordinator, Research Stream – PhD & MASc
and Fannie Yu, Financial Administrative Assistant
Innovation Award
Recognizing a staff member or team of staff members who has shown innovation in developing a new method, technology or system, or improving an existing system, to the benefit of the faculty.
Kelly and Yu are being recognized for the creation of a dashboard that allows CivMin faculty members to monitor their departmental contributions to funding allocation for student fellowships and to track all payments made to their students and research associates over the course of the academic year. The dashboard provides faculty with a comprehensive, real-time view of all active payees under their supervision. While built on a familiar tool — Excel worksheets — the system represents a significant leap forward in administrative efficiency, transparency and collaboration.
Prior to this innovation, the department relied on a fragmented system that separated business office records from student services oversight. Faculty had limited access to their own payroll activity, and staff had no shared platform for verifying payments. This created inefficiencies and increased the risk of students being underpaid. The new system allows faculty to easily view their spending and ensure they remain on track to meet their funding commitments to students. It also allows staff to share real-time data on payments to students and research associates. It has fundamentally transformed how the department supports students and manages the student funding package.
By Carolyn Farrell
This story originally published in full by Engineering News.