2014-15 TMU Gold Medal Recipients
The Toronto Metropolitan University Gold Medal is the University's highest honour, awarded to students with outstanding academic achievement combined with outstanding involvement with the University, their profession, and/or the community.
Faculty of Arts
Daniel Liadsky, Master of Spatial Analysis
Liadsky made valuable contributions to advancing food security initiatives for disadvantaged populations in the Greater Toronto Area, both as an academic and as a professional. He collaborated with the Canadian Urban Institute on projects related to food banks and neighbourhood populations. A gifted researcher and social scientist with advanced analytical and writing skills, he produced a PhD-level journal manuscript for his master’s research paper, which will be submitted to a referred academic journal. As well, Liadsky’s academic performance was outstanding – within his program, he had the highest entrance grade point average and the highest cumulative grade point average.
Faculty of Communication & Design
Michèle Pearson Clarke, Documentary Media MFA
For being an effective and dedicated leader within her program and in the graduate school at large, Clarke was awarded the Board of Governors Leadership Award and Medal and a TMU Gold Medal. Clarke served as the representative for her class on the Graduate Program Council. She also played a key role in planning, executing and marketing the graduate school’s Doc Now documentary film festival. As well, she represented TMU and her community in national and international film screenings, exhibitions and conferences. In her artistic installations, films and books, she furthered the ideal of a just society in which all people are treated with respect and dignity.
Faculty of Community Services
Adam Mattinson, Urban Development MPl
Mattinson was awarded the TMU Gold Medal for showing tremendous leadership and vision in the classroom, in the university and in his contributions to the urban planning profession, both in Ontario and in his home province of British Columbia. As president of the TMU Planning Graduate Student Association, he introduced numerous new graduate student program activities, helped strengthen the culture of student engagement and built lasting bonds with the Toronto Metropolitan University Alumni Association. He also completed important research that will help advance the profession. Mattinson is also recognized for having achieved a cumulative grade point average of 4.07.
Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
Dr. Anthony Lombardi, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering PhD
For his outstanding achievements as a researcher and course instructor at Toronto Metropolitan University and as a leader in the profession, Lombardi received the TMU Gold Medal. His award-winning research on engine blocks has directly led the automotive sector to achieve cost reduction, improved efficiency and reduced emissions. He is the first Canadian to serve as a student board member of the American Society of Materials International, the world’s largest materials society, and last fall, he received the society’s 2015 Best Student Paper Award. He also served on the organizing committee of the CAE-INAE Clean Coal Technology Conference. Dr. Lombardi managed all of these activities while maintaining a 4.26 cumulative grade point average.
Faculty of Science
Jill Padgett, Applied Mathematics MSc
A high-achieving student who has actively contributed to the vitality of the university, Padgett was awarded the TMU Gold Medal. Academically, Padgett is in the top two per cent of all graduate students in the department since its inception. She made outstanding contributions to the field of computational biology. Her thesis was presented at top conferences and submitted to a leading journal in the field. She volunteered as the student representative for the PhD program site visit in the department and at the university’s Science Rendezvous public outreach event. Additionally, she promoted graduate research and programs to the professional community and mentored other students at TMU.
Interdisciplinary programs
Dr. Victoria Fast, Environmental Applied Science and Management PhD
In recognition of her valuable research accomplishments and her productive engagement with community partners, Fast was awarded the TMU Gold Medal. Dr. Fast made a foundational contribution to research on volunteered geographic information systems. She also developed extensive relationships with professional organizations in her hometown of Oshawa, Ont. by volunteering as chair of the Oshawa Environmental Advisory Committee, as a member of the board of directors of the Clean Air Partnership, as a member of the Durham Food Policy Council and for various other government and non-profit bodies. Dr. Fast also became Durham Region’s go-to person for guidance on community adaptation to climate change.
Ted Rogers School of Management
Ilia Maor, MBA
A star student who epitomizes excellence, leadership and commitment to his community, Maor was awarded a TMU Gold Medal. He competed in nine national and international case competitions, including the prestigious Economist case competition, and earned many victories for the TMU MBA team. He played a pivotal role in founding the university’s Net Impact chapter, through which he and his peers volunteered for a Centre for Addiction and Mental Health client well-being project. Maor was also involved in the MBA Student Association, through which he served as a judge for undergraduate student case training.