The University of Winnipeg is proud to honour five outstanding faculty and staff members—Dr. Alan Diduck, Dr. Désirée Vanderwel, Pamela Delorme, Dr. Andrew Frey, and Thiago Nunes—during our 126th Convocation on Thursday, June 12 and Friday, June 13.
Dr. Alan Diduck – Professor Emeritus
Dr. Alan Diduck is a scholar, educator, mentor, and researcher who has made many valuable contributions to The University of Winnipeg for 22 years and counting.
A pioneering member of the Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Alan was instrumental in growing it from a small program into a full-fledged department. During his tenure, he held many important roles, including Program Director and Department Chair.
He spearheaded a strategic plan for the department, created an honours stream, secured accreditation from national associations, helped establish a graduate program in partnership with the Geography department, and organized a joint program with RRC Polytech.
Alan’s career is defined by public service. He began his career as a lawyer and Executive Director of the Community Legal Education Association, providing legal education and information services to the public with his characteristic modesty and empathy.
His student-centered teaching style led more than 1,700 students to take his classes. He went above and beyond to recruit and mentor students from equity-deserving groups, and supported students’ academic and professional development.
Alan’s research record is also exemplary. His research program received more than 25 external grants worth a combined $13 million, and resulted in 78 peer-reviewed publications.
A community-engaged researcher, Alan cultivated long-term partnerships with colleagues across Canada and internationally. He has also served on the board of local environmental NGOs, testified at environmental hearings, and contributed to the development of community gardens. Earlier this year, he was one of three UWinnipeg faculty members appointed to the Manitoba Clean Environment Commission.
For his contributions to teaching, research, university administration, community engagement, and public service, UWinnipeg bestows upon Dr. Alan Diduck the title of Professor Emeritus.
Dr. Désirée Vanderwel – Clifford J. Robson Award for Teaching Excellence
Dr. Désirée Vanderwel has spent her entire career dedicated to excellence in teaching and student success. She earned her PhD from Simon Fraser University and joined The University of Winnipeg Department of Chemistry in 1991 from the University of Nevada, where she worked as a post-doctoral fellow.
She sets the standard for teaching excellence and dedication in her department. She is continually renewing her course material, making it relevant to a modern context and current with new chemistry and biochemistry research.
Her dedication to the continual renewal of the chemistry curriculum is showcased in her current co-authoring of an open-access first-year chemistry text, and sole-authoring of an upper-level biochemistry textbook.
Her students are devoted to her and is known as an outstanding lecturer, regularly teaching the department’s most popular courses. She’s known for offering guidance to students on pursing graduate work and research, helping students envision their futures.
She is also compassionate and fair in addressing barriers to student success in her courses. She delivers courses that match the needs of pre-professional students, including providing asynchronous, remote, or evening options so students with full-time jobs can access the chemistry courses they need.
She was awarded Manitoba Outstanding Chemist in 2004 by the Chemical Institute of Canada Manitoba and Nothwest Ontario Local Section.
The University of Winnipeg is proud to honour Dr. Désirée Vanderwel with the Clifford J. Robson Award for Teaching Excellence.
Pamela Delorme – Stars of Spence Street Prize
Pamela Delorme has been the primary interface for students as the office assistant in the Department of Biology since 2001. Known for her cheerful disposition and empathetic personality, she has demonstrated an unprecedented level of commitment to her students and the department.
Her encyclopedic knowledge of all administrative matters in the department inspired the phrase “Just ask Pam”, which is trending.
Her patience positively impacts the department at every level. This, combined with her vast knowledge of courses and governance, allows her to skillfully navigate all administrative matters that pertain to students and the department.
Pam’s expertise and tireless behind-the-scenes support helped the department create UWinnipeg’s first PhD program.
She reviewed multiple drafts of program proposals, curriculum paperwork for Senate, and helped with curriculum design, to help mitigate future challenges. She also conducted crucial research in tracking the success of UWinnipeg’s Master of Science alumni that helped build government support for the PhD proposal.
She is loved and admired by the department at all levels, as one student wrote: “You are important to the whole honours program and I firmly believe you single-handedly may be responsible for the success of ALL the thesis students! Thank you for always knowing the answer.”
The University of Winnipeg is proud to award Pamela Delorme with the Stars of Spence Street Prize for her empathy, kindness, and dedicated support for students and UWinnipeg.
Dr. Andrew Frey – Erica and Arnold Rogers Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship
Dr. Andrew Frey is an influential physicist, known internationally for his world-leading work in more than one area of string theory. His versatility has also led him to work on topics well outside his PhD subject of string theory.
His research focuses on understanding the most fundamental laws that govern the universe: quantum gravity, the early history of the cosmos, and the role of extra dimensions.
Andrew received his PhD in theoretical physics in 2003 from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He then held the John McCone Postdoctoral Prize Fellowship at the prestigious California Institute of Technology.
In 2006, he moved to McGill University, where he was awarded the first ever national postdoctoral fellowship sponsored by the Canadian Institute for Particle Physics and the Perimeter Institute.
Andrew came to The University of Winnipeg in 2011, received tenure and promotion in 2016, and became a full Professor in 2023.
In his time at UWinnipeg, Andrew has received over half a million dollars in individual NSERC Discovery Grants, demonstrating his recognized excellence amongst the Canadian scientific community.
He has 51 refereed journal articles with over 1800 citations covering a wide variety of topics, and is approaching the citation efficacy of the top physicists in the world.
Andrew has a strong history of mentorship and student involvement in research. A hallmark of his work is involving many students, including undergraduates, as co-authors.
The University of Winnipeg is proud to honour Dr. Andrew Frey with Erica and Arnold Rogers Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship.
Thiago Nunes – Campus Sustainability Recognition Award
Thiago Nunes began at The University of Winnipeg in 2018, as an intern in the PACE project management internship program. Since then, he has distinguished himself by demonstrating outstanding leadership in advancing the environmental and economic sustainability goals of UWinnipeg. Driven by his innovative vision, he quickly moved up the ranks and now serves as the Director of Building Infrastructure.
His professional background as a mechanical engineer with 15 years of industrial maintenance experience, combined with his credentials as an Engineer in Training, through Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba, a LEED Green Associate, and PMP-certified professional, makes him an exceptionally skilled advocate for campus sustainability.
His knowledge of environmental management and expertise with data collection and analysis are essential to the University’s ongoing sustainability operations.
During his initial one-month internship with UWinnipeg’s Campus Sustainability Office, he synthesized complex data on energy, water, waste, and greenhouse gas emissions into actionable insights. Now managing the University’s energy, emissions, and utilities portfolio, he plays a key role in reducing consumption and advancing sustainability goals.
His collaborative approach has strengthened partnerships across campus and beyond, while his system improvements have promoted data integrity. Through the development of real-time energy performance dashboards, he has elevated the University’s capacity for transparent, informed sustainability reporting and decision-making.
He continues to advocate for bold ideas. He was instrumental in both the solar panel and biomass energy projects, helping UWininpeg move closer to its ambitious emissions reduction targets.
For his innovative leadership, and vision, The University of Winnipeg is proud to present Thiago Nunes with the 2025 Faculty and Staff Campus Sustainability Recognition Award.
