Creativity and Innovation
Sean Buxton (he/him) is UBC Mechanical Engineering’s Program Support Electrical Engineer, providing undergraduate technical instruction and support while overseeing the department electronics shop and student lab. Sean finds creative ways to enhance the student learning experience, such as during the COVID-19 lockdown when he developed a “lab in a box” to bring technical instruction to students regardless of their location. Creating over a hundred boxes for students all over the world, this innovation allowed students to experience hands-on learning while unable to access campus facilities.
Advancing Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence
Seeking to create a safe and welcoming workplace and learning environment, Senior Manager of Administration, Jen Pelletier (she/her) has continuously created opportunities for Mechanical Engineering faculty, staff, and students to engage in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives. Beyond developing and leading EDI workshops and training for faculty, staff, and teaching assistants, she has continuously explored opportunities to embed content into graduate and undergraduate courses. Collaborating across units, Jen has worked to bring EDI topics to the Applied Science community as a whole.
Sean and Jen have received two of eleven awards given across UBC, a number which also includes Applied Science’s Sarah Buse, Director of Experiential Learning and Academic Services, who received a President’s Staff Award for Leadership. Read about all of UBC Vancouver recipients of the 2023 President’s Staff Awards and the President’s Service Awards for Excellence