Sameer Al-Abdul-Wahid
Chair & Employment Terms & Conditions Committee Chair
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Centre
I joined the University of Guelph in 2016 as Manager of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Centre, a core facility within the Advanced Analysis Centre. I love supporting students and faculty in their research, teaching, and learning. A bit about my road to Guelph: I grew up in Vancouver, moved to the GTA for my graduate studies, and then took on similar NMR manager roles at McGill and Miami University (Ohio) before setting down strong roots in Guelph.
It’s an honour to serve as Chair of the PSA. Having been part of the Executive since 2017, I have deep respect for the work that has been done—and a strong commitment to the future. I believe the PSA’s strength lies in the collective wisdom and dedication of its volunteers. My focus as Chair is to support and empower all our contributors so the PSA can continue to be an effective and responsive advocate for its members.
P&M employees play a vital role in the University’s success, and I’m committed to ensuring our Compact and broader employment terms reflect the value we bring to our work every day. Beyond that, I look forward to working with the PSA Executive and Committees to grow and enhance our offerings—through vibrant social and professional events, improved member benefits, and peer support initiatives that foster connection and celebrate the unique, thriving community at the University of Guelph.
If you have an idea, suggestion, concern—or just want to chat—I’m always happy to hear from colleagues. My door is open.
Jackie Hamilton (she/her)
Vice-Chair & Professional Development Committee Chair
Lang School of Business and Economics
I am an alumni from the University of Guelph BASc. Adult Development program, and have been working full time at Guelph in a multiple roles since 2013. Currently I am the Director, Accreditation, Curriculum Development, and Learning Innovation in the Lang School of Business and Economics. I also have my Masters of Education in Student Development and Student Services in Post-secondary Education from OISE, and a background in learning and curriculum development. I believe in the importance and value of life long learning, and am currently a PhD candidate in Management (Leadership and Organizational Strategy), where I focus on the effectiveness of equity, diversity, and inclusion policies as drivers of organizational change.
I have been working as part of the PSA Executive since 2017, and have been the Chair of the Professional Development Committee since 2021. I look forward to continuing to contribute towards meaningful contributions to the professional development of PSA and its members and please feel free to reach out if you every have any questions or suggestions! It has been such a privilege and an honour to support our members, that I also started my first term as Vice-Chair in 2025. I’m excited for the year ahead and deeply committed to continuing to build a strong, supportive, and inclusive professional community within the PSA.
Emily Mininger
Secretary & Problem Resolution Committee Chair & Marketing & Communications Commitee Co-Chair
Central Communications & Marketing
I joined U of G community in August 2021 and have had the opportunity to work with several departments on campus – first at the library, then with the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences, and now as Manager, Internal Communications in Central Communications & Marketing. Prior to coming to U of G, I gained experience working in a variety of sectors and fields, having worked for the Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan, CivicAction (a non-profit in Toronto), and the University of Waterloo.
Outside of work, I enjoy being involved in the local community. I currently serve on Wyndham House’s volunteer committee to support homeless youth in Guelph and play clarinet in the Guelph Concert Band.
Through these roles I have developed my skillset as a strategic communicator who uses an equity and social justice lens in her communications work and build relationships with folks across the University and the broader Guelph community. I’m passionate about a variety of issues including equity and inclusion, sustainability, anti-racism and anti-oppression, and community-building. As a member of the PSA I hope to use my experience to advocate for the interests of my fellow staff and build our campus community.
Mark Torcoletti
Treasurer
Engineering & Physical Science – Dean’s Office
I started my career at the University of Guelph in 2009 as an accountant in the Controller’s Office and have held a couple different financial management roles on campus. I am currently the Associate Director, Finance & Operations for the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. This role provides me with a breadth of work in the areas of finance, human resources, and college administration. Prior to coming to the University of Guelph, I worked in accounting and finance at a large publicly-traded manufacturing company.
I am also graduate of the University of Guelph’s Bachelor of Commerce program and a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA). I am very excited to continue on for another term as treasurer and look forward to continue to work with our great network of members.
Leigh West
PSA Executive Past Chair, External Committee Representative Liaison
OAC Dean’s Office
As a lifelong Guelphite and proud multi-generational Gryphon, my connection to the University of Guelph is deep and personal. I’m a double alumna, holding a BA in Sociology & Marketing and a Lang Executive MBA specializing in Food and Agri-business. My career journey began with over a decade in the private sector, where I ultimately served as Director of Sales, Marketing, and Corporate Contracts for an R&D/manufacturing SME.
In 2010, I returned to the University, taking on roles that support research, operations, and graduate education—first as Contracts Officer in the Office of Research, then the College Manager of Research and Graduate Operations in the OAC Dean’s Office, and currently as Manager of Graduate Recruitment and Programs for OAC. In all these positions, I have been deeply committed to supporting faculty and colleagues and advocating for both aspiring and current graduate students.
My involvement with the Professional Staff Association (PSA) began in 2014, and I was honoured to be elected to both the PSA Executive and University Senate in 2015. Over the past decade, I have served in various capacities including Member at Large, Secretary, Vice Chair (2017-2021), Chair (2021-2015), and now Past Chair. Through these roles, I’ve worked alongside dedicated colleagues to champion professional staff interests, foster a culture of respect, and strengthen our sense of community. Collaborative negotiations, advancing member supports, and building meaningful connections have been at the heart of our work.
Additionally, my service on the University Senate—on bodies such as the Senate Research Board, Honours and Awards Committee and the Committee on Quality Assurance—has enriched my understanding of academic governance and fueled my passion for institutional excellence.
At my core, I am a collaborator and connector, driven by innovation and community spirit. I am especially passionate about creating environments where others feel seen, heard, and empowered to thrive. Outside of my professional life, I’m a proud parent of two sons, an animal lover, and a firm believer in the value of collective leadership.
Mike Calvert
Member at Large
University Centre Services
I am the Senior Operations Manager with UC Services where I manage the ancillary business and facility operations for the University Centre. As an alumni and full-time staff member, my gryphon pride runs deep! I started my undergrad education at U of G in 2002 and was hired as a student manager at Brass Taps Pub during my second week in Guelph.
Over the years as I studied and worked on-campus, I gained an exceptional appreciation and respect for the university community, our vibrant campus, values, and the opportunity to engage in amazing collaborations and partnerships with colleagues from across many departments and colleges. I was hired in an FTE position as Food & Beverage Manager for the University Centre in 2007 before becoming the Operations Manager in 2017 and advancing into a senior management role in 2022. I am deeply committed to professional development and lifetime learning, having completed several leadership, administrative, and business certificates as well as technical, regulatory, and industry certifications to support my work at the university and personal ambitions.
Outside of work, my family and I enjoy time spent outdoors on our farm in South Bruce, participating in community events, and supporting minor sports, youth engagement, and community initiatives and activities. I am a lifelong gryphon and excited to support the members of the PSA as a member-at-large.
Bethany Davidson-Eng
Member at Large
College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
Bethany Davidson-Eng joined the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS) in February 2022 as the Research Communications Officer and is now the Acting College Research Manager. She is an alumna of the University of Guelph, School of Environmental Sciences, where she completed her doctorate in soil science. She has strong ties to the University and its community, having not only received her doctorate from here but also was married in the Arboretum in 2018.
She continually strives for excellence and brings this mentality to everything she does. Bethany has a passion for governance brings a weather of experience with her to the PSA. She has served on the Ontario Institute of Agrologists’ (OIA) Board of Directors as Secretary and Guelph Representative (2018-2022), OIA’s Guelph Branch Executive as President (2018-2021) and currently stands elected (since 2018) to the OIA’s Bylaw Review Committee and Registration and Membership Committee. She was also elected Secretary and Bylaw Review Committee Chair for Royal City Artistic Swimming (formally Guelph Synchronized Swimming) (2017-2018). When she is not working or volunteering, she spends her time with her children, biking, baking, or reading.
Victoria Fritz (she/her)
Member at Large
Learning Specialist & Peer Helper Supervisor, McLaughlin Library
I am a Learning Specialist in the McLaughlin Library, helping to support students from first-semester first-years through PhDs and post-docs. During the 2021-2022 academic year, I was on secondment as the Mental Wellbeing Facilitator. I recently finished my PhD in Family Relations and Human Development, here at U of G, in April 2025, studying students’ experiences of academic failure! I maintain my designation as a Registered Social Worker and continue to pursue my research on failure more broadly.
I have been a PSA member since I first joined the university in 2015, and have recently joined both the PD and PR committees. I have really appreciated the commitment to our members that I have observed as part of these committees, and as part of the PSA, and I would like to give back to the PSA as a member at large. I am committed to supporting our P&M staff and I look forward to advocating for our members in all of the ways that I can!
In my free time, you can find me enjoying local craft beers with my husband, or hanging out, reading, with my two cats!
Kathe Gray
Member at Large
Research Communications
I am a Guelph grad who returned to the U of G as staff in 2022. Since then, I’ve brought a writer’s eye and a designer’s sensibility to each role I’ve held — from Research Communications, where I crafted written and visual content for key initiatives, to the Ontario Veterinary College Advancement team, where I developed proposals and stewardship reports, to my current role on the Annual Giving team, where I contribute strategy and storytelling to campaigns that connect with more than 100,000 alumni and donors each year, digitally and in print.
Before joining the University, I built more than 30 years of experience in communications and project management, including two decades of running my own design and communications studio. During that time, I supported regional arts organizations, social service agencies, publishers, and educational institutions — including the U of G — and earned my Registered Graphic Designer status. I have a soft spot for learning. Alongside my BA in drama and fine art, I hold an MA in social anthropology from York University, where I am currently a PhD candidate in theatre and performance studies. I also hold a certificate in creative writing from the University of Toronto, where both my poetry and fiction have received awards. It’s safe to say that after I clock out at the end of the workday, you’ll still find me messing around with words and imagery.
Hilary Holmes (she/her)
Member at Large
Admission Services – Office of Registrarial Services
Since arriving at the University of Guelph as an undergraduate student, I’ve built a career rooted in supporting access to education and helping students find their place here. I currently serve as an Admission Counsellor, specifically for the Bachelor of Computing, Science, Mathematics, and Landscape Architecture programs, while also leading the development of transfer pathways and articulation agreements to create more accessible entry points for non-traditional and transfer students. I hold a BA and a MSc in Capacity Development and Extension from the University of Guelph and bring over a decade of experience in student recruitment, advising, and admissions.
I’m excited to serve on the PSA Executive as a Member-at-Large to help strengthen the professional staff community. I’m especially passionate about improving onboarding and mentorship for new staff, increasing opportunities for leadership and professional development, and supporting employee health and wellbeing across campus.
Outside of work, I’m a proud aunt, a lifelong dog lover, an enthusiastic volleyball player, and a rural Ontario local who still finds joy in naps, snacks, and cheering on the Leafs. I look forward to contributing to a positive and connected staff experience at U of G.
Jill Randall
Member at Large & Member Engagement Committee Chair
College of Biological Science
I joined the University of Guelph full-time in August 2016 as an Alumni Advancement Manager in Alumni Affairs & Development. Prior to this I worked in Alumni Affairs & Development (AA&D) as a student for three years in the Alumni Engagement Centre. Although I’ve overseen a couple of different fundraising portfolios over the years, I have been working in the College of Biological Science (CBS) since 2021. In my role I work with alumni, staff/faculty/retirees, corporations, and foundations to help realize philanthropic gifts, while also organizing events, communications, and volunteer opportunities for CBS alumni. Outside of my role, I’ve also held various volunteer positions within the University, including being a Wellness @ Work Champion (2017-2022), Chair of the Social Committee in AA&D (2018-2023), and a Culture Committee Member in AA&D (2018-2022).
I have been a member of the PSA since 2017, Chair of the Member Engagement Committee since 2021, and part of the PSA Executive since early 2022, with a break for a parental leave from May 2023-September 2024. As an alumna (B.Comm, HRM ’16) and staff member, I feel strongly about being involved in supporting fellow employees and I enjoy utilizing my background in relationship building and event management to bring together our members for various events and activities throughout the year. I look forward to continuing to serve our members and would welcome anyone who is interested to join the Member Engagement Committee.
Brandon Sabourin
Member at Large
Office of Teaching & Learning
I am an educational developer in the Office of Teaching and Learning. My role focuses on curriculum review and development, primarily supporting the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) to assess student learning experiences in relation to program learning outcomes and competencies. I facilitate data-driven curriculum improvement practices designed to advance OVC’s impact on veterinary medical education. I also support faculty members with course design and SoTL research.
Prior to joining the Office of Teaching and Learning, I worked as an instructional designer and educational developer at Red River College Polytechnic to support curriculum development and flexible course delivery. I have been a sessional instructor at several institutions, including at the University of Windsor, where I continue to teach courses in their BEd program.
I hold BA (English Language and Literature), BEd, and MEd (Curriculum Studies) degrees from the University of Windsor, where I am currently a PhD Candidate in Educational Studies. My doctoral research involves identifying the educational development needs of sessional and contingent faculty in relation to their approaches to teaching (how they teach) and their conceptions of teaching (thoughts on the purpose of teaching).
As a PSA member at large, I am excited to share my experience and skillset to continue pursuing a meaningful, respectful, and equitable working experience for all members.
Ian Turner
Member at Large
School of Environmental Science
My name is Ian, and I serve as the Administrative Officer for the school of Environmental Sciences (OAC). I hold my CPA/CMA designation and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Guelph. I joined the University of Guelph in 2017 and have worked in the Deans Office College of Arts & Environmental Sciences. Outside of my professional responsibilities, I enjoy spending quality time with my two young daughters and participating in triathlons as a semi retired age group athlete. My commitment to precision and enthusiasm for continuous improvement drives my work, and I look forward to contributing to the team.