Exceptional UBC Applied Science staff and faculty recognized with 2026 Dean's Awards
Ten UBC Faculty of Applied Science staff and faculty have been recognized with the 2026 Dean's Awards for their outstanding contributions. The recipients include three faculty members and seven staff members who have demonstrated leadership, innovation, and a shared commitment to excellence in their fields. They were celebrated at the annual Applied Science summer barbecue on June 3.
2026 Dean's Awards
Dean's Faculty Award for Excellence in Service, Leadership and Administration
Tonia Welch
Assistant Professor of Teaching, Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering
A champion of inclusivity, Tonia Welch oversees key initiatives that enhance the student experience at the Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering. As the Associate Head for the undergraduate program, Welch established a recruitment strategy that saw enrolment more than double. She also founded the Women in Mining student group, creating a supportive, empowering community within the program.
With help from Welch’s efforts to cultivate strong partnerships with industry, NBK established three endowed professorships and saw increased co-op opportunities for students. Student groups have also seen increased support as a result of her skilled relationship building. She consistently seeks opportunities to connect with the community, representing NBK at recruitment events, industry functions and outreach initiatives. Her exceptional operational support for both students and faculty has made her a trusted advisor and integral colleague.
Dean’s Faculty Award for Excellence in Mentoring Early Career Faculty
Dr. Thomas Oxland
Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Department of Orthopaedics
For over 30 years, Dr. Thomas Oxland has been an exceptional mentor across the fields of mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering and orthopaedics. His dedication to fostering confidence and well-being in junior faculty has built a highly supportive and collegial environment conducive to both professional and personal growth. His practical and strategic advice has seen faculty through all phases of professional development, with his many mentees describing his support as essential as they navigated the stages of their careers.
Dr. Oxland is also a champion of emerging researchers. He is a leader in UBC’s renowned biomechanics community, and sets a standard for junior faculty to emulate as they establish their own labs. Even before their appointments begin, Dr. Oxland reviews foundational grants, ensuring these faculty begin their careers well-supported. His extraordinary commitment to mentorship continues to shape the next generation of academic leaders.
Dean’s Faculty Award for Advancing Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigeneity
Dr. Lydia Wytenbroek
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
Dr. Lydia Wytenbroek is dedicated to amplifying the stories of communities that have been historically overlooked in nursing. Through her work as a social historian of health and nursing, she has led and supported a number of initiatives that highlight the contributions of Indigenous and Black People of Colour (IBPOC) healthcare workers. She is a mentor to students exploring nursing from diverse perspectives, including a team of graduate students that created an interactive website that engaged over 50 community members, Elders and students.
Dr. Wytenbroek’s work has had global influence, with her digital book Black Nurses’ Contributions to Health Care becoming a teaching resource worldwide. Locally, she recently curated an exhibition, Journeys in Care: Stories from Nurses of Indian Heritage, for the Museum of Surrey. Her leadership has made a profound impact within nursing education and beyond.
Dean’s Staff Award for Excellence - Dedication to Service Excellence
Tara Deans
Manager of Student Services and Recruitment, School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
“[Tara] is an amazing colleague, trainer and supporter to new employees and sets up an environment in her team of excellent service and support which carries through in the entire department and School.”
Tara Deans has been an essential member of the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture team for over two decades. As the scope of her work has expanded, Deans has demonstrated consistent care and empathy for the student experience. In her role as Manager of Student Services and Recruitment, she has built a collaborative and supportive environment for students, staff and faculty across programs.
Deans has initiated and developed a number of programs that support both current and prospective students, including an annual networking event that sees significant industry participation. Through her leadership, the Design Discovery program has grown into an important recruitment tool. She routinely tackles complex problems with compassion and a high level of expertise, gaining the trust of everyone she works with. Through her many contributions and genuine care for the SALA community, Deans exemplifies dedication to service excellence.
“Norma has been a steady and dependable presence. Her strong work ethic, attention to detail, and professionalism make her someone colleagues can always rely on.”
Norma Donald’s 12 years of dedicated service have made a lasting impact on the Department of Mechanical Engineering. She has been a consistently reliable colleague, with a notable commitment to continuous learning. She has taken the initiative to learn new systems and skills to better support the department. Furthermore, she is always willing to share her knowledge with staff, students and faculty, building team capacity and fostering a collaborative environment.
Considered her department’s “go-to person”, Donald has been a steady presence in times of transition. In particular, she led Material Engineering’s transition to Workday, providing education and assistance with a positive attitude. She is incredibly dependable, possesses a strong work ethic and approaches her work with care and integrity. As she prepares to retire in the coming months, her years of excellent service are reflected in the positive culture she helped build.
Dean’s Staff Award for Excellence - Emerging Impact
Joey Yeap
Program Project Manager, Department of Materials Engineering
“In a short time, Joey has established herself as an innovative, highly effective and community-minded contributor.”
Since beginning her role as Program Project Manager, Joey Yeap has demonstrated exceptional initiative and leadership. Her ability to identify opportunities and build relationships has resulted in significant tangible outcomes. She has successfully secured funding for multiple projects, advancing key initiatives for the Department of Materials Engineering and the Net0MM CREATE program. Notably, she led a successful $200,000 proposal for the renewal of the Characterization @ UBC cluster.
Yeap has been instrumental in building community, whether it’s with students, alumni or researchers across UBC. She has also developed recruitment strategies that are equitable and inclusive, and ensures student employees gain meaningful professional development experience. Her ingenuity in allocating resources in a particularly challenging funding environment ensured administrative capacity was maintained. She led a project to revitalize Material Engineering’s website creating a modern and student-focused digital presence. Yeap is already an essential contributor to the department and is poised to build on that impact for years to come.
Dean’s Staff Award for Excellence - Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigeneity
Sarah Coffin
Manager, Communications, Culture and Engagement, School of Biomedical Engineering
"[Sarah] has made SBME more inclusive, more accessible and more connected by changing how people learn, engage and relate to one another."
Sarah Coffin consistently embeds inclusion and equity into the practices and culture of the School of Biomedical Engineering. With her exceptional skills in storytelling and her dedication to making tangible change, she has made EDI.I an integral part of the School’s identity. She leads the SBME Propels series of workshops, seminars and panels that support trainees and faculty members in integrating EDI.I practices into research. She has developed strong relationships with Indigenous communities, reducing barriers to education and employment.
The initiatives Coffin supports have reached over one thousand participants, reflecting her ability to develop programming that resonates across communities. She confronts difficult subjects with empathy and honesty, turning these conversations into opportunities for learning and connection. Through her leadership, Coffin has made the SBME community more welcoming, accessible and accountable.
Dean’s Staff Award for Excellence - Creativity and Innovation
Sarah Bromwich-Price
Student Support Manager, Engineering Academic Services
[Sarah's] contributions have delivered measurable improvements in efficiency, coordination and user experience while strengthening the culture and capacity of Engineering Academic Services.
Through strategic thinking, thorough planning and a progressive mindset, Sarah Bromwich-Price has continuously improved how Engineering Academic Services operates. Her ability to identify opportunities for efficiency and coordination across workflows has improved service quality for both students and staff. Tasked with integrating an entirely new Student Support team, she thoughtfully restructured roles, responsibilities and systems. Facing a complex transition of the team’s physical space, Bromwich-Price was instrumental in ensuring a seamless continuation of operations.
Bromwich-Price has introduced tools to foster collaboration and efficiency, such as a digital hub for team resources and a new way to track and manage student interactions. She fosters an open and inclusive environment that encourages the sharing of ideas and feedback. Bromwich-Price's vision and initiative is reflected in the lasting positive impact she’s made on the Student Support team.
Dean’s Staff Award for Excellence - Inclusive Leadership
Erin Hagen
Safety, Stores and Technical Coordinator, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
“Erin fosters a supportive and engaged environment where individuals feel respected and heard. She is approachable and responsive, and her leadership encourages participation while maintaining a focus on outcomes.”
Erin Hagen’s dedication to a culture of safety, collaboration and continuous education make her an exemplary leader. As Safety, Stores and Technical Coordinator, she is responsible for establishing a strong foundation in safe and responsible practice for new students and researchers. Her ability to translate technical knowledge into practical guidance with patience and professionalism has helped develop an environment where safety is integrated into daily operations.
Through consistent lab visits and training sessions, Hagen has been a proactive and intentional leader. She routinely collaborates with teams across UBC to ensure CHBE benefits from current knowledge and coordinated practices. In a field that can often involve experimental work with significant hazards, Hagen is committed to building confidence and competence in her community. Her leadership is reflected in the culture of accountability and shared sense of responsibility that she has helped to build.
Dean’s Staff Award for Excellence - Student Engagement and Experience
Nadine Sad-Ang
Engineering Technician, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
“By building strong rapport with students, faculty and teaching assistants, [Nadine] consistently transforms challenging interactions into constructive and supportive partnerships."
In just over three years, Nadine Sad-Ang has become an essential member of the ECE Engineering Services team. With a service-oriented mindset and a mastery of technical requirements, she has become a dependable point of contact for students and faculty in the undergraduate laboratory courses she supports. Her initiative is reflected in the Electronics Assembly lab, which she helped transform into a centre of student technical excellence. She is consistently available to support students using the space, whether through training and orientation sessions or a “hotline” for technical help.
Sad-Ang's impact extends beyond UBC. She hosts work experience sessions for female high school students, creating engaging and hands-on opportunities to explore engineering. Through a commitment to excellence, care and exceeding expectations, Sad-Ang has been an invaluable support for students and consistently improves their experience.
