The PSA Emerging Leader Staff Award of Excellence is intended to recognize the contributions of an early-career PSA member, while the PSA Staff Award of Excellence for Exceptional Service is intended to recognize the contributions of established PSA members. These awards are offered annually, with nominations due in May.
The PSA announced this year’s award winners at the AGM on June 26th. Congratulations to our 2025 winners: Alyssa Voigt for the Emerging Leader award and Joel Best for Exceptional Service! Learn more about the great work they are engaged in from the excerpts from each of their nomination packages below.
PSA Staff Award of Excellence, Emerging Leader 2025: Alyssa Voigt
“Alyssa demonstrates professional excellence through her meticulous approach to managing hundreds of curriculum changes each year. Her integrity is unwavering – she consistently upholds academic policy and takes a student-centred approach in all decisions. She displays empathy and diplomacy, navigating complex governance issues with clarity and care. Alyssa’s institutional memory and deep knowledge make her an invaluable curriculum expert across campus. She is known for advocating for student centred solutions, never losing sight of the broader purpose of academic change.”
PSA Staff Award of Excellence, Exceptional Service 2025: Joel Best
“Joel has taken on an increased workload for the CCS Management team for over a year now. With the retirement of the manager of Client Productivity last year, and the role not having been filled yet, Joel has thanklessly stepped up to fill that gap. In addition to managing his own portfolio, he’s provided leadership, support, and guidance to a team outside of his immediate responsibility. He approaches every challenge with professionalism, empathy, and patience, whether that’s mentoring staff, leading service restorations, or coordinating with cross-campus stakeholders. His communication style is inclusive and effective, and he holds himself and his team to a high standard of accountability. His ability to keep stakeholders informed and engaged throughout high stakes initiatives is a testament to his integrity and leadership. From his leadership in enterprise infrastructure projects to his engagement with campus-wide policy and planning, Joel demonstrates an enduring commitment to the institution’s mission. His service has a lasting impact, and he exemplifies the best of what the PSA stands for.”
