2026 Mohawk College Award of Excellence Recipients
Congratulations to this year's recipients
The Mohawk Award of Excellence is the highest honour for recognizing individual employees at the college. Three Awards of Excellence are presented annually to an outstanding employee from the faculty, support and administrative employee groups. This year's awards were presented at the President's Kick-Off on September 3.
Congratulations to this year's recipients, Karen Davis, Melissa Crowley and Grant Hodson.
Award of Excellence - Faculty: Karen Davis
Karen Davis, Early Childhood Education Professor and Program Coordinator, is the 2026 Award of Excellence recipient in the Faculty category.
Karen has dedicated nearly 25 years to the Early Childhood Education program at Mohawk College.
She has demonstrated innovation and leadership through the development of initiatives such as the ECE Career Expo, providing students with valuable networking opportunities, career pathways, and direct engagement with employers in the field. Her leadership was especially evident during the pandemic when she guided faculty and students through the transition to online learning with flexibility and creativity. Her impact is further showcased through a recent collaboration with the International Department in developing a training program for educational partners in Egypt.
Karen's active participation on local committees and collaborative initiatives have strengthened connections between the college and the early childhood education sector, ensuring that the program remains responsive to community needs and workforce demands.
Her ability to build and sustain strong partnerships with community organizations, educators, and industry professionals is a key contributor to the sustained success of the ECE program. Her exceptional leadership and steadfast dedication to Mohawk College make her a deserving recipient of the Mohawk Award of Excellence.
Congratulations, Karen!
Award of Excellence - Support Staff: Melissa Crowley
Melissa Crowley, Senior Accounts Receivable Specialist, is the 2026 Award of Excellence recipient in the Support Staff category.
Melissa has played a critical role in Mohawk College's Banner Business Transformation project, also known as the BBT. She consistently goes above and beyond to understand not only current-state processes, but also how Banner SaaS can be leveraged to improve operational efficiency in our future state. She thoroughly reviews requirements, asks thoughtful questions, and challenges assumptions to ensure Mohawk adopts best practices rather than simply replicating existing processes.
Melissa has become a trusted resource across multiple project streams, proactively collaborating with Finance, IT, Student Services, and project consultants to help develop effective solutions while keeping project deliverables on track.
These qualities are not limited to her work on the BBT project; they have been evident throughout her tenure in finance. Whether navigating unique funding arrangements or addressing unusual one-off situations, Melissa is always looking for opportunities to improve outcomes for all. Her dedication to Mohawk College makes her a deserving recipient of the Mohawk Award of Excellence.
Congratulations, Melissa!
Award of Excellence - Administrative Staff: Grant Hodson
Grant Hodson, Director, Corporate Reporting and Banner Business Transformation Project Lead, is the 2026 Award of Excellence recipient in the Administrative Staff category.
Grant was described by his nominators as showing exceptional leadership, in-depth understanding of the college’s operations, and an unwavering willingness to support those around him.
He has made extraordinary and lasting contributions to Mohawk College in two recent projects. In the Strategic Mandate Agreement 3 process Grant played a central role in defining and projecting the performance metrics on which the college is evaluated by the province. His strategic insight and data-informed approach ensured alignment with institutional priorities and helped secure a sustainable foundation under the province’s performance-based funding model.
He is also playing a pivotal role in the college’s Banner ERP implementation. Through Grant's leadership, he has driven forward system modernization, safeguarded data integrity, and laid the groundwork for more efficient service delivery and data-informed decision-making across the college.
Whether leading critical initiatives like SMA3 or Banner implementation, or offering guidance to colleagues across departments, Grant’s collaborative approach fosters a positive and supportive work environment for all. His exceptional leadership makes him a deserving recipient of the Mohawk Award of Excellence.
Congratulations, Grant!