The Lynda Tam Guiding Light and Legacy Award

This annual award has been established in honour of Lynda Tam, a long-serving leader at York University. Lynda served as the first Assistant Dean, Students in the School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design where she had a profound impact on the student experience through shaping student services, advising, and peer mentoring programs. Lynda’s commitment to her students and their success was part of her everyday practice. Through her creative and imaginative approach, she developed programs and initiatives that helped students excel and reach their academic, personal, and professional goals. Lynda exemplified student service excellence across York University.  

Lynda was a coach and a guiding light to students, staff, and faculty. As a founding Co-Chair of the Peer Leader Community of Practice and as a campus leader in advising, Lynda’s impact on students and student services staff was far reaching and continues today.

Lyinda Tam

The Lynda Tam Guiding Light and Legacy Award is presented annually to an advising, peer leadership or student services professional who embodies Lynda Tam’s creativity, imagination, and ability to positively guide others and programs to deliver student service excellence.

The award recipient is chosen by a committee including members from the Advising and Peer Leadership Communities of Practice and includes a piece of art commissioned each year by the committee and created by a current AMPD student.

Criteria

The nominee:

  • Demonstrates creativity and imagination in their practice
  • Serves as a guide and coach to students, colleagues, and/or programs
  • Delivers student service excellence daily

Eligibility

  • A full-time employee at York
  • Serves as an advising, peer leadership or student services professional

Nomination File Requirements and Guidelines

The Chief Nominator is responsible for putting together a nomination file that consists of:  

  • Three (3) Letters Maximum  
    • One (1) lead nomination letter from the chief nominator  
    • Up to two (2) letters of support  
  • Each letter must be from an individual author (multiple authors on a letter are not permitted)  
  • Self-nominations are not permitted  

Letter Formatting and Content Guidelines  

  • Each letter does not exceed a total of two (2) pages, and the total number of pages of ALL letters combined does not exceed six (6) pages
  • Quotations from other persons are not included
  • Acronyms are not used

You are encouraged to use the Nominator Guidance Document to help shape a strong and complete nomination. It outlines the type of information and evidence that should be included in your submission, including how to clearly describe the nominee’s role, contributions, and impact, and how to align examples with the award criteria. This resource is intended to support the development of a well-structured, evidence-based nomination letter; it is for your reference only and does not need to be submitted with the nomination form.  

Please submit your nomination packages using this online form by March 25th, 2027.

Questions?

Please email fa-lyndatamaward@yuoffice.yorku.ca.