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Award Recipients

President’s Awards 2020 Recipients | Distinguished Faculty Award


Michael Gamble Faculty of Social and Community Services

“Having Mike as a professor has had a positive impact on me. Not only did he teach me the skills to pursue my desired career, but also to this day he constantly provides me with advice on how to reach my goals.”

Jeremy Swimmer, Crime Scene Management Graduate


Michael was nominated for creating a program that includes strong theory-based learning that is applied through labs and simulations.

Michael Gamble teaches in the Forensic Identification, Police Foundations and Criminal Justice degree programs. He was the program coordinator of the Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) program for several years and was instrumental in developing the curriculum and growing the program into the new Forensic Identification Ontario Post Graduate Certificate. Michael coaches and guides in a non-assuming way and quietly pushes people forward. He is caring, giving of his time of his expertise.​

Michael’s vision and leadership created a program that includes strong theory-based learning that is practically applied through labs and simulations. He makes curriculum ‘come alive’ by giving students a real feel for forensic identification work using Humber’s crime scene studio and labs.​​

Currently, Michael is working on developing training videos for online learning to support curriculum development in response to the COVID pandemic. He is also seeking to gain accreditation from the Ontario Police College for the Scenes of Crime Officer Course which would train police officers and special constables in forensic practices. He has been involved in applied research, has sat on many committees and has been on the leadership team that created a strong partnership with Nanjing University in China. In this capacity, he has taken Humber students to China and worked with the delegation of Nanjing students who come to study policing at Humber. ​

Michael is a strong educator who creatively teaches contemporary policing issues and crime scene investigation. He embraces teaching with enthusiasm and caring for all students. He has taken on significant leadership roles in the Faculty of Social and Community Services and have been in the forefront of curriculum and partnership development.

Michael Gamble: Distinguished Faculty Award Nomination Video

Michael Gamble Video testimonial

Amy Weir Humber Libraries

“Throughout my time working with Amy she has shown incredible leadership, dedication, hard-work and team building skills. Amy works tirelessly to support the UNB-Humber BN students by completing class visits every year.”

Dr. Jaime Lapeyre PhD, RN, Associate Dean, UNB/Humber Collaborative BN Program


Amy was nominated for creating multiple platforms to assist students and staff learning for online research and training.

Amy Weir started her career at Humber as a work study student in the Library in 2007 while she studied at the University of Guelph-Humber. After completing her degree, Amy went on to complete a Masters of Information at the University of Toronto returning to Humber Libraries as a full-time Health Sciences Librarian in 2012. In addition, to supporting faculty and students, during the past 7 years, Amy has become a co-lead for the Research Help Services and the Library’s marketing team lead. ​

Amy is an imaginative and innovative thinker. Her boundless enthusiasm and concentration, her ability to visualize, organize, lead and complete projects, her meticulous attention to detail and her inherent inquisitiveness in the latest digital learning software, social media platforms and other creative technologies has given Humber a Librarian who consistently allows the library, the staff she mentors and the faculty and students she supports to thrive. ​

Amy’s learner-centred approach to teaching and learning ensures her work is always dynamic, interactive and innovative. Her focus, her drive and her expertise in the fields of librarianship, technology and visual arts, help generate a culture of continuous learning and engagement at Humber Libraries.

Christine Zupo Faculty of Health Sciences & Wellness/University of Guelph-Humber

“Her passion for Indigenous rights burns so brightly and is contaigous. That undying passion has inspired so many students to push harder and go the extra mile for what you believe in, myself included.”

Sophie Skinner, Student


Christine was nominated for developing a ‘lived’ course, in which the voices and experiences of the First Nations community are shared and experienced.

Christine Zupo is a passionate and dedicated Professor who provides students an opportunity to expand their perspective and grow. She has included the First Nations community voices, experiences and perspectives with the Early Childhood studies program at the University of Guelph-Humber. ​

She has designed and developed a ‘lived’ course, in which the voices and experiences of the First Nations community are shared and experienced. She has also led several annual events i.e.: Orange T-Shirt Day, Have a Heart Day supporting Truth and Reconciliation and the Rights of the First Nations children, for the Early Childhood Studies program. In addition, she created a safe space for the students to learn and to grow, to understand their country’s history, and to understand themselves and their role as an Early Childhood Professional and their impact in children’s lives in the First Nations community in and around Toronto.​

Her passion and dedication inspires students to want to learn more, to be involved and make a difference. A student stated “So much of what I have learnt, what I believe in, comes from having had Christine as a Professor…Her passion for Indigenous rights burns so bright and is contagious. That undying passion has inspired so many students to push harder and go the extra mile for what you believe in, myself included.”

Nathan Radke Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences & Innovative Learning

“Through charm, humour, and an awful lot of thoughtful advanced planning and reflection, Nathan regularly makes his classes into those special experiences that students remember even years later.”

Doug Wright, Professor, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences & Innovative Learning


Nathan was nominated for contributing to writing, editing, directing, producing, and narrating a number of short instructional videos to complement the curriculum.

Nathan Radke is a full time Professor in the Facutly of Liberal Arts and Sciences & Innovative Learning. It is no exaggeration to say that Nathan is a pioneer in creating engaging learning environments. His success is due to several factors: Captivating Teaching Style, Dynamic Curriculum Development, Student Centred Supplementary Resources and his Community Activities, Teaching and Non-Teaching Committees, and Scholarly contributions to advance in his field. ​

Using thoughtful advanced planning and reflection, charm, and humour, Nathan regularly makes his classes into those special experiences that students remember…even years later. He is a gifted classroom educator who is willing and eager to broaden their sense of where education ‘happens’ from podcasting, to radio interviews, to the creation of viral videos. Nathan employs whatever technologies are at hand in order to reach as many individuals as possible. He is a very enthusiastic collaborator within a large department – a testament to his character. ​

Nathan could easily and justifiably stand alone in the spotlight but regularly uses the attention he attracts to shine a light on talented students, newly minted teachers searching for mentors, and the overlooked and often under sung long-standing members of his faculty. ​

Natural talent, fearless creativity and exploration, and generosity, Nathan exemplifies much of what is best in contemporary pedagogy.​

Shonah Chalmers Faculty of Business

“Shonah’s approach to teaching is caring while also pushing students to their full potential.”

Colin Bartley, Professor, Faculty of Business


Shonah was nominated for seeking out opportunities that support Humber’s community involvement and provides learning experiences for students.

Shonah Chalmers is a Program Coordinator for the Culinary Programs and Professor – she never stops! ​

She regularly works 60+ hours per week, strategically selecting opportunities that will support student learning. Shonah’s approach to teaching is caring while pushing students to reach their full potential. Taking a collaborative approach and partnering with other Program Coordinators and students, she “expands” classroom teaching and learning to include experiential opportunities whenever possible. The success of her students is always top of mind. ​

Shonah is keenly aware of equity and diversity in her students, staff and faculty – openly asking questions and asking for feedback from others to ensure she continues to grow in her knowledge of inclusivity. ​

From a community perspective, she actively seeks out opportunities that support Humber’s community involvement and provides learning experiences for students that are meaningful and memorable. ​

Shonah Chalmers: Distinguished Faculty Award Nomination Video

Shonah Chalmers Video testimonial