Five members of the campus community are receiving the President’s Service
Award for Excellence for distinguished contributions to the university.
Each winner will receive a gold medal and $5,000 during Spring Congregation
ceremonies.
Allan Lackie began his career at UBC in 1961 as a stores clerk in the
Chemistry Dept. In 1968, he joined the Purchasing Office, where he is now the
major contracts officer.
Complex contract proposals and purchasing agreements are his stock-in-trade.
In recent years, his work in supporting the library’s move to a new automated
system, covering more than a year-and-a-half of proposals and review, was particularly
challenging. Throughout the process, Lackie provided guidance, support and expertise
to arrive at a successful and productive conclusion.
Off-campus, he is very active in his church and community, especially as a
lay counsellor.
Patricia Lackie joined the university as a secretary in 1970. For 10
years she worked in the Faculty of Science, much of that time in the dean’s
office. In 1980, she took her knowledge, skills and commitment to the English
Dept., first as secretary and now as administrative assistant.
Her duties there are described by colleagues as “supervisor and mentor of
the office staff; bookkeeper and financial conscience; energetic fighter for
funding and equipment in the constant struggle to improve facilities; and as
a guide and adviser to faculty members bemused by the intricacies of bureaucracy.”
With her husband Allan, she is an active member of her church, volunteering
many hours to benefit her community.
Gisela Mallue‘s service to students, faculty, colleagues and patrons
of the UBC Library spans more than 30 years. She has worked in the Woodward
Biomedical Library, the Serials and Catalogue divisions, and since 1970 as a
library assistant in the Science and Engineering Division.
Mallue has helped several generations of students find relevant information
for essays and theses. Her work maintaining the complex, extensive scientific
and engineering journal collection — some 1,300 active titles — in complete,
accurate and easy-to-use order, is a legacy for generations of library patrons.
Mallue is also a vital player in the library’s social life, organizing many
formal and informal functions such as retirement parties and holiday celebrations.
Off-campus, she frequently volunteers with the Vancouver Opera Guild and with
elderly patients in hospitals and seniors’ homes.
William Cullen is an internationally respected chemist, whose scholarship
was recognized by election to the Royal Society of Canada in 1993, and with
a UBC Killam Research Prize in 1994.
Cullen served an unprecedented two terms as president of the Faculty Association.
He worked to improve employment conditions for faculty members and librarians,
including issues related to sessional lecturers, maternity leave and housing
assistance.
Prof. Cullen went on to serve on the university’s Board of Governors from
1993-96, where he was a strong advocate for research-related proposals and faculty
concerns.
He was also a driving force in the creation of the Quarter Century Club to
honour faculty and librarians contributing 25 years of service to the university.
In 1996, he was elected the first president of the club.
Mary Enid Graham came to Asian Studies in 1977 as a secretary. In 1981,
she was appointed secretary to the head of Asian Studies, just in time to take
on a multitude of details relating to the department’s move to the Asian Centre.
Her knowledge of university procedures makes her an invaluable asset to her
colleagues, whether faculty, staff or students, because she knows how to get
things done.
Faculty members uniformly sing her praises for navigating complex university
procedures, and ensuring timely and competent completion of administrative projects.
Early next year Graham will retire from her position as supervisor of administration
in Asian Studies, after more than 20 years in the unit.
