Photo (l-r): Emmy Neuls, Manager, Graduate Programs (Distance) GENI and Online MPA, Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy; Nancy Turner, Director, Teaching and Learning Enhancement, University of Saskatchewan. Photo credit: Mark Ferguson.
Photo (l-r): Emmy Neuls, Manager, Graduate Programs (Distance) GENI and Online MPA, Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy; Nancy Turner, Director, Teaching and Learning Enhancement, University of Saskatchewan. Photo credit: Mark Ferguson.

JSGS employee receives USask Service Award for International Engagement

Emmy Neuls, manager of Johnson Shoyama’s online Master of Governance and Entrepreneurship in Northern and Indigenous Areas (GENI) and online Master of Public Administration (MPA) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) campus, has been awarded the university’s inaugural International Engagement Service Award.

Emmy Neuls, manager of Johnson Shoyama’s online Master of Governance and Entrepreneurship in Northern and Indigenous Areas (GENI) and online Master of Public Administration (MPA) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) campus, has been awarded the university’s inaugural International Engagement Service Award. The award was presented on Friday, February 7 at the People Around the World 2020 conference, which brought together faculty, staff, and students to advance the university’s internationalization efforts in the areas of global research, sustainable partnerships, and collaborative projects with partners around the world.

 “Emmy is a superb example of a staff member who is thoroughly committed—both professionally and personally—to international engagement,” said Dr. Murray Fulton, director of Johnson Shoyama Graduate School’s USask campus. “She has spent her career working tirelessly to provide opportunities for students and faculty to expand their education and experiences to include an international perspective.”

In 2015, Emmy led the development and implementation of the GENI program, in collaboration with partners from UiT The Arctic University of Norway (UiT). The program was the first international joint degree to be offered at USask with a European institution. It was also the first joint degree between Canada and Norway, and at the time of launch, was the first truly international joint degree in Western Canada. As such, negotiations for the GENI program involved not only two educational institutions but also the Government of Norway and the Government of Saskatchewan. Over the past five years, she has also helped secure funding from Erasmus+ and Cameco Corporation to support and provide educational and international mobility opportunities for northern and Indigenous students.

“Emmy’s continued involvement in the GENI program is a key component to its success,” said Dr. Ken Coates, JSGS Professor and Canada Research Chair in Regional Innovation. “She has helped with everything from student advising to community relationships, field school planning to Northern Saskatchewan and Norway and coordination, international protocol, highly successful grant applications, program orientations for incoming students, and international conference organizing. Her collaborative work with the Sami Centre at UiT is, without doubt, the finest example of partnership building I have ever witnessed in my academic career.”

In addition to her involvement in the GENI program, Emmy has provided institutional support to help organize site visits to Norwegian and Scandinavian institutions for USask leaders and researchers. She has also helped raise the university’s profile internationally, by serving as the only North American representative on the Arctic Frontiers Steering Committee and by facilitated USask delegations to present their research at the annual Arctic Frontiers Conference.  

“Having moved to Saskatchewan as an international student from Norway, I know first-hand how international experiences can help mould an individual’s perspective in terms of their academic research and outlook on life,” said Emmy Neuls. “I have been very fortunate to work with both institutions to develop and maintain an international program and partnership that can have a true impact at the local level.”  

The International Engagement Service Award was established to recognize the exceptional contributions of an administrative staff member who is dedicated to building international partnerships and engagement, enhancing research opportunities, and providing faculty and students with access to international experiences, research funding, knowledge, and experts.