Dean's Gold Medal Award
The Dean's Gold Medal was created during the 10th anniversary year of the School of Public Health and awarded for the first time in June 2017.
The award is intended to recognize a student's superior academic performance.
MPH Students
Awarded annually in the spring to a student who completed the MPH degree requirements during the previous academic year.
Important notes: There may not be a nominee awarded every year. Additionally, during a transition in degree requirements that involves a change in the required culminating course, two MPH Dean’s Gold Medals may be awarded (one for each cohort).Students in the MPH program will be assessed on:
- top-notch performance in the culminating course of the degree
- specific award criteria for the applicable culminating course will be developed as needed to reflect MPH degree requirements for transitions between academic years
- applicable assessments include a tick box that involves considerations for the MPH Dean’s Gold Medal with a rationale
- academic advisors and preceptors are required to assess a student’s work, following a standard rubric, and may recommend a student for consideration for the Dean’s gold medal, based on an overall assessment of Exceptional
- overall academic performance based on GPA
- substance and quality of the work completed in SPH 598 Practice Experience
At the end of the winter semester, the instructor or practice coordinator of the culminating course will:
- Create a list of all MPH students for whom an academic advisor and preceptor have both assessed the student’s work as Exceptional, and recommended the student for the Dean’s Gold Medal
- instructors and practice coordinators can nominate up to three MPH students per year, supported by a recommendation letter for each
- School of Public Health Awards Committee will review and assess nominees, considering the recommendation letters, rationale and a GPA > 3.7, with greater weight on the SPH 598 Field Practicum work
- In the event of a tie, the Awards Committee may choose to present the award to two students OR ask the Dean of the School of Public Health to decide.
MSc students
Awarded annually in the spring to students who completed the MSc degree and are eligible to graduate at the previous fall and spring convocation ceremony.
Important note: There may not be a nominee awarded every year.Students in the MSc program will be assessed primarily on:
- a completed thesis and oral defence with full Committee (including external member) agreement to recommend for the award with rationale recorded on MSc thesis defence Chair's form
- form will include a tick box for "Consider for a Dean's Gold Medal (MSc)"
- overall academic performance
School of Public Health Awards Committee administrative staff will:
- Create a list of nominees for whom the "Exceptional - Recommend for a Gold Medal" box has been ticked on the thesis defence form and is supported by the rationale recorded on the MSc thesis defence Chair's form.
The Awards Committee will review and assess nominees, considering:
- rationale
- a GPA > 3.7, with greater weight on the thesis defence
PhD students
Awarded in the spring to students who completed the PhD program and are eligible to graduate at a preceding fall or spring convocation ceremony.
Important note: There may not be a nominee awarded every year.Students in the PhD program will be assessed primarily on:
- a completed thesis and oral defence with full Committee (including external member) agreement to recommend for award with comments/rationale recorded on PhD thesis defence Chair's form
- completed thesis and oral defense is the main criterion, with full Committee agreement (including externals) to recommend for award with rationale/comments recorded on PhD thesis defense Chair’s form
- form includes a tick box “Consider for the Dean’s Gold Medal”
MACE students
Awarded annually in the spring to students who completed the MA degree during the previous spring-fall-winter period.Students in the MACE program will be assessed primarily on:
- a completed thesis and oral defense, with full Committee (including external) agreement to recommend for award with rationale recorded on MA thesis defense Chair's form
- Form will include a tick box for "Exceptional - Recommend for a Dean's Gold Medal (MA)"
- overall academic performance
School of Public Health Awards Committee administrative staff will:
- Create a list of nominees for whom the "Exceptional - Recommend for a Gold Medal" box has been ticked on the thesis defense form, supported by the rationale recorded on the MA thesis defense Chair's form.
The School of Public Health Awards Committee will review and assess nominees, considering:
- rationale
- a GPA ≥ 3.7, with greater weight on the thesis defense
For MSc/PhD/MACE (Thesis-Based) Students
A Letter from the supervisor is required listing the student’s accomplishments, publications, awards, presentation etc. supporting the nomination for the Dean’s Gold Medal. Please submit directly to the Office of Educational Programs at sph.programs@ualberta.ca. This nomination letter must be submitted within 30 days of the defense.
- Jacob Hambrook, PhD
- Brittany Molnar, MSc
- Erika Rodning, MPH
- Landon Turlock, MACE
- Jessica Devries, MACE
- Gregory Farmer, MSc
- Avneet Hayer, MPH
- Nisa Lambrecht, MPH
- Catherine Mitran, PhD
- Narlie Dapilos, MPH
- Alexandra Loverock, MSc
- Sydney Rudko, PhD
- Katelyn Wieringa, MPH
- Rebecca Clark, MSc
- Amy Colquhoun, PhD
- Natasha Lifeso, MPH
- Gilgamesh Eamer, MSc
- Kevin Lien, MPH
- Dat Tran, PhD
- Nicole Kain, PhD
- Lina Li, MPH
- Jacqueline Noga, MSc