Celebrating Excellence: Mike Folinas Receives 2024-25 Exemplary U of T Ambassador Award

The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy is proud to announce that Mike Folinas, director of research administration, has been named a recipient of the 2024-25 Exemplary U of T Ambassador (EUTA) Award. This prestigious, university-wide honour recognizes staff and librarians who have made a significant positive impact across our academic community through outstanding service and leadership.

Folinas’s dedication to advancing research at the Faculty is evident in his tireless efforts to identify funding opportunities, support faculty members in submitting strong grant applications and streamline research administration. His work has been instrumental in strengthening the Faculty’s research enterprise, ensuring that investigators and trainees have the resources and guidance needed to drive groundbreaking discoveries.

“Mike is a true team player who fosters a collaborative environment within the Faculty of Pharmacy’s research enterprise,” said Micheline Piquette Miller, associate dean of research, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. “His can-do attitude inspires researchers and students alike to pursue new opportunities, and his leadership in cross-functional teams has helped streamline research processes and enhance our productivity.”

“His can-do attitude inspires researchers and students alike to pursue new opportunities, and his leadership in cross-functional teams has helped streamline research processes and enhance our productivity.”

Beyond his contributions to securing funding, Folinas, with assistance from his team, have played a key role in working with researchers to develop a long-term strategy for shared research equipment—critical infrastructure that enables cutting-edge scientific innovation. Folinas has been working with the Equipment Task Force to make this a reality. A complicated task that takes ongoing efforts.

In addition to his work at the Faculty, Folinas is deeply engaged in the broader research community. From 2018 to 2024, he served as a member-at-large for the Canadian Association of Research Administrators (CARA), where he contributed to several key initiatives, including the development of CARA’s strategic plan.

Under Folinas’s leadership, new tools have been developed to advance equity, diversity and inclusion, including the LDFP Research Group Manual. This template allows research groups to develop research group general practices and policies for all aspects of research. The manual can be tailored to each research group and their specific research areas. Many of the principles and practices align with the Tri-Agency Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) action plan. The manual also uses principles developed in the “Promoting a Healthy Lab Culture at the University of Toronto” developed through the School of Graduate Studies. "I am so very honoured to receive the 2024-25 Exemplary U of T Ambassador (EUTA) Award,” he said.

“A special thanks to all of those who have supported me and continue to support me. This would not be possible without an exceptional team.”