School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work academic Alison MacKenzie was stunned to win the ICARE award at a recent ceremony for the Queen's University Staff Excellence Awards. The award was a surprise addition to this year's awards, in recognition of recently deceased Vice-Chancellor Professor Paddy Johnston. Alison was nominated by appreciative students for her Integrity, Connected, Ambition, Respect and Excellence (ICARE).

Speaking of her award, Alison said: 'Words to express my gratitude and sense of humility elude me but I’m very, very honoured, and simply stunned, to receive this award.'

On behalf of her SSESW colleagues, Head of School Professor Carl Bagley acknowledged Alison’s achievement:

‘I am absolutely delighted that Dr Alison MacKenzie was the recipient of the special ICARE Award at the Staff Excellence Awards. It is always gratifying when a colleague, who many in the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work know to professionally embody Queen's key core values, is given institutional-wide recognition of this kind.’