The Special Recognition for Staff Awards recognize staff, nominated by their peers, who have gone above and beyond their day-to-day activities to create a lasting positive impact across the Queen’s community. For 2024, two teams and eight individual staff members are being celebrated for their excellent work and accomplishments. One of the teams, and one of the individuals was from Smith Engineering. Award recipients and their guests are invited to a private reception in May with Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane to celebrate their tremendous achievements.
“These awards celebrate staff members and teams who are doing incredible things,” says Principal Deane. “It is with great pride and appreciation that, on behalf of the university community, I extend our collective congratulations to all this year’s recipients. Your commitment, hard work, and dedication to excellence make a meaningful difference at Queen’s, and we are grateful for your contributions.”
The recipients of the 2024 Special Recognition for Staff Awards in Smith Engineering are:
Sophie Felleiter, Research Development Coordinator, Smith Engineering
Since joining Smith Engineering in 2022, Sophie Felleiter has made an extraordinary impact as a Research Development Coordinator. Over the span of her career at Queen’s, she has supported over 200 research grants and award applications and has helped to secure over $39 million in funding. Sophie’s proactive, innovative approach, combined with her drive for excellence, has made her a critical resource for research development and coordination across Smith Engineering. Outside of grant writing, Sophie has helped to revitalize Chemical Engineering’s communications, developed research websites, and supported interdisciplinary collaborations across Queen’s. She is known by many as a trusted mentor and has helped to drive research excellence further within the department. Sophie was recently recognized as one of Kingston’s 40 under 40 and, in 2023, was a recipient of the Smith Engineering ENG Esteem Collaboration Award. Her work ethic, initiative, and collaborative nature are just a few qualities that colleagues referenced when nominating Sophie.
Mechanical and Materials Engineering team, Smith Engineering
Mechanical and Materials Engineering team includes technologists Gary Neff (left) and Adam Cordick (right).
Adam and Gary don’t just build equipment for students, they empower them to engage with it and understand it, showcasing their passion for mentorship, innovation, and excellence in engineering education. As resourceful and dedicated technologists, they seek out new skills to support research, course delivery, and student success. They play a key role in enabling hands-on learning and inquiry by building and maintaining durable and safe lab equipment while also stepping up to provide technical support to anyone that needs it, often on short notice. Their contributions extend well beyond their own department, to the Mechatronics and Robotics program, Ingenuity Labs Research Institute, and the Department of Civil Engineering. They embrace challenge and teach themselves specialized techniques, such as fabricating custom sensors and fan arrays or mastering industrial-grade servo systems, to meet needs without relying on external expertise whenever possible. Their impact goes far beyond technical problem-solving; through proactive, solution-oriented approaches, they significantly enhance student learning and create a safe, supportive, and state-of-the-art environment where students can confidently explore advanced engineering concepts.
Advancing Social Impact
The individuals and teams receiving these awards demonstrate collective commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through education, research, equity, connection, and community engagement. Their dedication and tangible impact exemplify meaningful progress on many interconnected SDGs:
- Sophie Felleiter contributes to SDGs 7, 12, and 13 through her involvement in various research proposals like the Open Plastic Project.
- Technologists Adam Cordick and Gary Neff contribute to SDGs 4, 9, and 12 by enabling innovative, sustainable engineering education and research.
As a group, the efforts of this year’s recipients of the Special Recognition for Staff Awards indicate deep and meaningful integration of sustainable development principles into much of the exceptional work being done across the university.
“The recipients for this year’s Special Recognition for Staff Awards exemplify the spirit of commitment and collaboration that drives our university forward,” says Lisa Walsh, Associate Vice-Principal, Human Resources. “It’s a privilege to recognize their achievements and celebrate the lasting impact they have across our community.”
Nominations for the 2025 Special Recognition for Staff Awards will open in the Fall. Anyone, including students, staff, faculty, and alumni, can submit nominations. All forms and instructions are available on the HR Intranet.
The original story was published in the Gazette on April 28, 2025. You can read the original story here.