UBC has announced the 2025 recipients of the President’s Service Awards for Excellence and the President’s Staff Awards, recognizing staff members who demonstrate outstanding achievement and excellence within the UBC community.
Among this year’s honourees are two staff members recognized for their exceptional efforts in advancing anti-racism and inclusive excellence—a category that celebrates leadership in promoting inclusive excellence at UBC. This award honours efforts to advance equity and inclusion at UBC by removing barriers to full and active participation in university life, and to positively influence and engage others in equity and inclusion initiatives.university life.
Jennifer Chin
Associate Registrar and Director
Student Support & Advising, Enrolment Services
Jennifer Chin (she/her) is advancing equity and inclusion through transformative changes to UBC’s student and financial support systems. With deep insight into the barriers faced by equity-deserving students, she has reshaped award practices and expanded access to resources.
A particular focus of Jennifer’s work has been supporting international students, who face unique financial challenges when unexpected crises arise—such as family business downturns or currency devaluations. Recognizing the lack of traditional loan options available, Jennifer forged innovative partnerships with private lenders, making affordable loans accessible to all international students at UBC. This groundbreaking initiative offers stability and opportunity during times of uncertainty.
Jennifer has also advanced support for Indigenous students. In addition to enhancing financial accessibility for Indigenous students and other underrepresented groups, Jennifer’s team proactively provides holistic, year-round support to ensure Indigenous students have access to all available resources to ensure a smooth transition into the fall term.
Jennifer’s innovative leadership has created lasting structural change, ensuring UBC’s financial systems reflect equity, care, and inclusive excellence.
Kaila Mikkelsen
Assistant Dean, Students
Kaila Mikkelsen (she/her) is a central presence in student academic advising at the Peter A. Allard School of Law. Her unwavering dedication to student success is paired with a commitment to fostering inclusive excellence and embedding equity and inclusivity into the student experience.
Kaila has spearheaded transformative initiatives such as the IDEA Leaders Pre-Orientation Program, which fosters community among historically underrepresented students in the legal profession. She also advanced the Student Ambassador Program to ensure diversity of applicants by recruiting Ambassadors from historically underrepresented groups, including first-generation students, socio-economically underrepresented groups, and candidates who identify as BIPOC. Kaila also embeds EDI into student programming in meaningful ways, such as organizing EDI workshops that are now an integral part of student orientation.
Kaila’s student-centered leadership, curriculum reforms, and student programs have significantly advanced anti-racism and inclusive excellence at Allard Law, contributing to a more supportive, equitable, and sustainable learning environment.
Read the full list of 2025 President’s Staff Award recipients ›