For those of you who have worked with Paola over the past 14 years, it likely doesn’t come as a surprise to hear that she is the recipient of a President’s Service Award for Excellence (PSAE) this year. Paola is a consummate professional and natural leader known for her level head, dependability and warm presence.
Here are just some of the reasons Paola was selected for the PSAE:
As a team member in the International Student Initiative, the Undergraduate Advising Office at the Sauder School of Business, and UBC Undergraduate Admissions, countless students would say that Paola has made a genuine difference in their academic careers and in their lives.
Paola’s accomplishments are brought about by inspiration and by example, not by direction. Though she has been innovative and progressive on countless occasions, her impact on the people around her manifests in the little things, the things that she does every day, consistently and caringly. Simply put: Paola fosters the culture that everyone wants to be a part of.
Paola’s colleagues, beyond question, know that she truly cares for each and every one of them. All those little things, the things we learn about in the leadership seminars, the things we wish we could do for our team if we only had more time, Paola does out of instinct.
Paola’s instinct is to work collaboratively; she thinks about what others need to know about her work and proactively establishes the lines of communication. She is just as open and accessible to her team and her colleagues as she is with the students she serves.
And her leadership goes well beyond her formal job description. For the past two years, Paola has served as the Chair of UBC’s United Way Campaign. She has worked tirelessly, motivated by her conviction for the cause and her belief in the UBC community. Listen to her speak about the United Way and the potential we have (as a community) to make a difference – she leads and motivates through example and conviction.
Congratulations Paola!