EngSci’s academic advisor for domestic students in Years 1 and 2, Stephen Johns, has been honoured with U of T Engineering’s Barbara McCann Quality of Student Experience Award for Frontline Staff. The award recognizes his significant contributions to the quality of student experience through outstanding frontline service and is one of several staff awards presented by the Faculty.
Johns is known within EngSci’s student community as a highly skilled and dedicated advisor. He provides compassionate and student-centred support to approximately 400 students, from their transition to university to their selection of one of the program’s majors. He also helps faculty members to better understand the student experience and the challenges they may be facing.
“My goal is that each student in our program has a great experience, whatever that means to them,” says Johns. “While doing well academically is obviously important, I really encourage students to prioritize their physical and mental health, live a balanced life, and make friends.”
“Stephen’s incredible dedication to the academic success and well-being of our students is vital to their achievements,” says EngSci interim director, Professor Peter Grant. “Anyone who has met him immediately understands why our students put their trust in him—his friendly, empathetic nature, combined with his proficiency in academic advising quickly endears him to the students. He has a thorough understanding of our program and works with students to find solutions to whatever academic issues arise.”
In addition to his advising work, Johns also manages admission and programming. He has advocated for the fair consideration of students with non-traditional experiences or unique life challenges, and has long been an active member of equity, diversity, and inclusivity initiatives within the Faculty and EngSci.
Johns joined EngSci in June 2019 after spending three years as a member of the U of T Engineering recruitment team, where his work focused on international students and on underrepresented populations in the Greater Toronto Area. Prior to arriving at U of T, Johns spent eight years working in recruitment and admissions at the University of Calgary and three summers working in student affairs at Queen’s University.
“The entire EngSci team works hard to try to build a supportive community in EngSci,” says Johns. “While it’s my name on this award, I think of it as a recognition of all of our aspirations in community-building. It’s easy to work hard when you’re part of such a collegial team and supporting such an enthusiastic student community.”