2017-18 Gold Medal Recipients

Dr. Jessica Sutherland, Psychology PhD

Dr. Sutherland provided exemplary volunteer service at TMU. Within Psychology, she was a student representative for various committees for over four years. Within the university, she was a student representative for the Senate Appeals Committee, the University Teaching Awards Selection Committee and the Academic Integrity Council. Within the community and profession, Dr. Sutherland volunteered for over five years for the John Howard Society of the Ontario Centre for Research and Policy, where she worked tirelessly on criminal justice issues. She developed evaluation tools for incarcerated youth, provided support services to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services staff, and was named Volunteer of the Year in 2016.  

For her outstanding achievements, Dr. Sutherland also received the Board of Governors Student Leadership Award and Medal.

Sarah Claydon, Documentary Media MFA

Sarah Claydon holds a cumulative GPA of 4.22, the highest in her graduating class. In addition to this remarkable academic accomplishment, Claydon’s contribution to the university and the wider community is exemplified in her commitment to social justice and support of feminist media making practices, as well as her academic leadership among peers. Claydon’s high academic achievement, her drive and determination to help her peers enter the fields of documentary film and journalism, her commitment to social issues on the world stage, and her outstanding work ethic truly reflect the qualities recognized by the university's Gold Medal.

Danielle Culp, Urban Development MPl

Danielle Culp demonstrated strong commitment to students and faculty in her program, the School of Urban and Regional Planning, and the university through volunteer involvement and leadership in extracurricular activities. As president of the university's Planning Graduate Student Association, Culp helped develop effective programs to connect peers with other student associations, alumni and professionals. She was also actively involved in student and/or community-led initiatives such as Jane’s Walk, RU a Planner and the ShapeLab King St. Transit Pilot. Culp’s strong leadership and commitment to city building, community and civic engagement significantly contributed to building new relationships between the university and the broader community, and enhanced the reputation of the planning school.  

Dr. Fadi Mishiriky, Aerospace Engineering PhD

An outstanding graduate student, Dr. Mishriky made a significant impact on student engagement, both within the aerospace graduate program, and at TMU in general. As vice-president of administration for the Aerospace Graduate Course Union, he was a tireless organizer of its Aerospace Gala. Dr. Mishriky also volunteers at a weekly child development program run through the Canadian Coptic Centre in Mississauga, Ont. and has been a Scout leader for the St. Mark Scout organization in Heliopolis, Cairo for many years. Dr. Mishriky is an outstanding researcher who has co-authored 13 journal and conference articles and received a Best Presentation Award at the 2017 Aero Conference.

Jian Liu, Biomedical Physics MSc

Jian Liu earned a cumulative GPA of A+ while commuting between and Toronto and London, Ont. during his studies. He spent many evenings and weekends on his research at Sunnybrook’s Odette Cancer Centre, as those were the only times available to use clinical machines for non-clinical work. Despite these challenges, Liu also devoted time to volunteer work, most recently helping with the biomedical physics graduate program open house by giving visitors tours of the physics labs.

Dr. Emilia Zboralska, Communication and Culture PhD

Dr. Zboralska contributed immensely to the university, her community and industry. Her scholarship examines issues of social justice and diversity in screen-media production careers, and her research has constantly informed her professional practice on and off campus. Dr. Zboralska uses her cutting-edge research into how to make screen-media production more equitable and less precarious as a platform from which to lead and create change in the industry by practicing professionally what she preaches in her scholarship, starting on campus and extending into the community.

Alexander Barratt, Ted Rogers MBA

Alexander Barrett earned the top GPA across both MBA programs. As MBA Games captain, he led his team to a second place finish out of 25 Canadian MBA teams. He worked with students on the MBA Spirit, Sports and Academics teams, and was responsible for 40 students in Ottawa. Barrett competed in six case competitions, winning the Out on Bay Street Competition, and placing second in the Women in Leadership Case Competition. In addition, he competed in the Sports Data Analytics Competition in Phoenix, Arizona and was part of the Ted Rogers Leadership Centre’s Junior Fellows Program.