It should come as no surprise that Queen’s Toronto Alumni Branch events are a lot of fun and well organized – expectations are high when the Branch president’s full-time job is event manager.
Theresa Wetzel, Artsci’07, who works for the financial services company Moneris, joined the Toronto Branch executive in 2012 when she took the role of VP Operations and became president in 2014. Branch volunteers say she took on both jobs with great passion and has been an exemplary leader.
Her enthusiasm and ability to inspire people around her are among the reasons Ms. Wetzel is receiving the Rising Star Volunteer Award from the Queen’s University Alumni Association (QUAA). Ms. Wetzel will be officially honoured at the QUAA Awards Gala and Dinner on April 8 at the Isabel Centre for Performing Arts.
“It is a true honour. I feel touched to be nominated from my fellow peers and to be representing the amazing Toronto Branch with the acceptance of this award,” said Ms. Wetzel. “Queen’s University is an instant community you enter into the first time you step on campus; from orientation week to graduation and every Homecoming afterwards. It is a continued community that stays with you even after graduation day wherever you go.”
Under Ms. Wetzel’s leadership, the Branch conducted a rebranding exercise and drafted a new mission and vision. Ms. Wetzel decided to eliminate the number of Branch activities and focus on fewer but more meaningful events. She also wanted to focus on engaging young alumni. The Branch started new activities such as Queen’s Night Out (a night of drinking and dancing for young alumni) and the Toronto Branch Award. Branch volunteers enjoy working with Ms. Wetzel because she is the type of person who encourages her peers to take on leadership roles and thrive.
Ms. Wetzel understands the importance of building relationships in the Toronto community. After Bell Media president Mary Ann Turcke, Sc’88, MBA’97, won the Toronto Branch Award, the pair partnered on a Branch event were 20 young alumni joined Ms. Turcke on the set of the TV show The Social.
These changes have helped the Toronto Branch greatly expand its alumni audience.
“Theresa brought her uniquely personal approach and unwavering spirit for all things Queen’s to each and every Toronto Branch meeting and event,” says past Branch President Zhaodi Culbreath, Sc’08. “She worked tirelessly to streamline processes, increase awareness and help volunteers navigate all the requirements to run some of the most incredible, highly attended events in recent Toronto Branch memory.”
If you know of a Queen’s alumna/us who is a new and dedicated Alumni Association volunteer, consider nominating them for the Rising Star Volunteer Award. Nominations are now open.
