Congratulations the winners of the 2024-2025 Principal’s Staff Awards!
Black excellence was well-represented in this year’s 2024-2025 Principal’s Staff Awards! We’re proud to celebrate members of the UTM community whose leadership and dedication continue to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion, and create spaces where Black staff, students, and faculty can thrive.
Black Alumni Mentorship Program Team
Launched in Winter 2024, this trailblazing program connects Black-identifying UTM students with Black alumni mentors in their fields of interest, fostering meaningful relationships, leadership development, and career exploration. The team’s work has strengthened community, inspired student success, and laid the foundation for a vibrant Black alumni-student network.
Team members:
Tara Clemens, Martin Kengo, Cameron Walker, Melissa Heide, Sheri Browne
Temporary Black Student Space Team
Cloveth Smith and Steven Suraci led the creation of UTM’s first dedicated space for Black students, transforming KN 127 into a welcoming hub that served 950+ students and over 10 Black student-led groups. Their efforts paved the way for the permanent Centre for Black Excellence and Belonging.
Team members:
Cloveth Smith and Steven Suraci
Emerging Leadership ~ Martin Kengo
Martin’s leadership has been transformative. As the architect of the Black Flourishing Framework and a driving force behind community-building events and initiatives, his work continues to elevate Black voices and shape inclusive policy across campus. Martin leads with vision, empathy, and a deep commitment to equity.
Leadership Award ~ Jeff Espie
Jeff Espie is a strategic leader and storyteller whose work has shaped UTM’s vision and voice. He’s played a key role in campus-wide initiatives, from supporting leadership transitions to aligning departments with institutional goals.
His work with the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Office helped translate anti-racism reports into actionable frameworks, advancing UTM’s response to the Anti-Black Racism Report. A generous mentor and collaborator, Jeff’s impact is felt across the university.
