York University’s Faculty of Health is celebrating four exceptional faculty members whose work is shaping the future of health education, research and service.
The 2025 Dean’s Awards recognize the accomplishments of early-career faculty members Jessica Sutherland, Lesley Zannella, Ramesh Venkatesa Perumal and Jeffrey Wardell for their outstanding contributions in the following categories: Excellence in Teaching, Educational Leadership, Service and Research.
“This year, the Faculty of Health is proud to celebrate the exceptional achievements of four faculty members whose dedication and leadership exemplify our mission to positively influence health, wellness and their determinants through leading-edge education, research and practice,” says Dean David Peters. “On behalf of our faculty, staff, students and our community partners, I extend heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to this year’s award recipients.”
Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
Recipient: Assistant Professor Jessica Sutherland, Department of Psychology
This award, which honours a faculty member’s outstanding commitment to high-quality teaching within the Faculty of Health, was presented to Sutherland for being an educator whose breadth and depth of excellence reflect best practices and carefully cultivated skills developed over time.
Sutherland champions inclusive, student-centred approaches, such as scaffolded, mastery-style grading and universal design for learning, using multiple modalities to support student well-being and reduce barriers to success.
Her commitment to sharing best practices, engaging in ongoing professional development and translating knowledge into action has elevated teaching both within her courses and across the Faculty of Health.
Dean’s Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership, Curricular and/or Pedagogical Innovation
Recipient: Assistant Professor Lesley Zannella, Department of Psychology
This award, which recognizes outstanding educational leadership, pedagogical and/or curricular innovation, was given to Zannella for her efforts to improve the educational experiences and opportunities of students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
She has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and creativity in designing innovative, student-centred and equity-driven learning experiences. Her contributions include: launching high-impact, community-engaged initiatives; integrating peer mentorship into classroom settings; and playing a key role in developing and delivering the pan-Faculty co-op preparatory course.
Beyond the classroom, she actively supervises individual research projects and provides mentorship to graduate students. Her service to the Faculty extends further: she has supported faculty orientation, co-chaired the Department of Psychology’s Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee, and co-developed the Diversity Digest, a monthly resource offering practical strategies to embed equity and inclusion in teaching.
Dean’s Award for Excellence in Service
Recipient: Assistant Professor Ramesh Venkatesa Perumal, School of Nursing
This award recognizes outstanding educational leadership, pedagogical and/or curricular innovation, and was given to Venkatesa Perumal for his contributions to student success and the advancement of the nursing profession.
He currently serves as undergraduate program director for the Direct Entry Nursing Program and coordinator of the Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) Program. In these roles, he has championed equity by helping to launch an accelerated three-year BScN option, revising IEN admissions and implementing strategies to support student retention, success and well-being.
His impact reaches beyond York through national leadership in evaluating international nursing curricula and designing supports for the integration of internationally educated nurses into Canadian health care. His dedication to service and transformative change is reflected in his work with the National Nursing Assessment Service, the College of Nurses of Ontario Expert Panel and the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing mentorship program.
Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research
Recipient: Associate Professor Jeffrey Wardell, Department of Psychology
This award, which recognizes excellence in research, was given to Wardell, a clinical psychologist, who has demonstrated exceptional promise and productivity in the field of addiction psychology.
Since joining York University in 2020, Wardell has built a highly productive, well-funded program that addresses urgent public health challenges. The program fills critical gaps in the understanding of addictive behaviour amid shifting societal and political contexts, including the COVID-19 pandemic, cannabis policy reform and persistent health disparities.
Wardell’s research stands out for its integrative, multilevel approach, examining the complex interplay of biological, psychological and social factors in substance use disorders.
With 97 peer-reviewed publications and over $6 million in funding – including grants from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research – Wardell’s growing international recognition reflects the depth, relevance and impact of his contributions to the field.