Staff Excellence Award 2026: Priscilla Ang creates a legacy of care

“I’m one of those lucky people who have known most of their life what they wanted to do,” says Priscilla Ang. She knew she wanted to help people and chose her path as a counsellor at the young age of 15. She didn’t waver — for the last 15 years, Priscilla has supported the well-being of students at the University of the Fraser Valley. In recognition of her dedication, innovation, and proficiency, Priscilla has been chosen as the 2026 recipient of the Staff Excellence Award.

The Staff Excellence Award goes to a UFV staff member who has exceeded expectations in their role, supported their colleagues, and contributed to the goals of the university; those who work with Priscilla overwhelmingly agree that she’s done all three, exemplifying UFV’s commitment to building community, transforming lives, and engaging learners.

She describes being a therapist as not a job, but a way of being; her colleagues describe her as an anchor of stability, a visionary leader, and a compassionate mentor. As clinical supervisor and counselling department head at UFV, Priscilla has earned their admiration by making considerable improvements during challenging times. During the pandemic lockdown of 2020, the department needed to pivot to virtual services, quickly, at a time when people needed support more than ever.

“Prior to that, virtual counselling, within the profession of counselling itself, was quite uncommon. Transitioning to a virtual platform overnight was extremely challenging,” Priscilla recalls. “Our utmost concern was ensuring that our services were still accessible and available to students — that students knew how to reach us, that they could still feel safe and connected in a counselling session online, and that our clinicians felt supported in the work. In addition to that, we needed to ensure that our chosen platforms were meeting all our profession’s ethical and legal standards, in adherence with privacy laws. So, it was a bit of a tricky transition, and in the end the counsellors and clients and everybody did a phenomenal job supporting each other through that.”

After successfully leading her team through that high-pressure transition, Priscilla went on to further innovations. These include a new intake and navigation system, accessibility updates to the Counselling Services website, an urgent appointment model that provides same-day or next-day support for students in crisis, a digital triage platform and online booking portal, and continues to lead the bi-annual mental health screening days for early intervention. Because of these initiatives, students receive faster, more streamlined care with fewer barriers to support.

“Priscilla’s contributions have transformed Counselling Services from a reactive model into a dynamic, student-centred hub that nurtures resilience, learning, and belonging,” says Robbyn Bennett, executive director of Student Affairs at UFV. “These initiatives reflect her deep commitment to building a community that supports the whole student — mind, body, and spirit.”

Her influence extends beyond her department, and beyond UFV. Priscilla provides consultation and support to faculty and staff managing complex student situations. She’s formed partnerships with other departments including Athletics, Housing, the Centre for Accessibility Services, the Indigenous Student Centre, and more, to create a cross-campus web of support for struggling students. Her work has established her department as a leading example in the post-secondary sector, while making UFV a safer and more caring place for students.

And they’re not the only ones who benefit — by sharing her expertise with emerging counsellors on her staff and at the Chilliwack Youth Health Centre, and with peer program facilitators and student leaders, she extends the reach of mental health care beyond our walls and into the Fraser Valley.

“The ripple effects of her guidance are visible across the region — in schools, agencies, and clinics that now benefit from UFV-trained counsellors grounded in Priscilla’s ethos of compassionate service,” Robbyn says. “Her work transcends the boundaries of her role; it uplifts others, builds institutional capacity, and creates a legacy of care that will benefit UFV for years to come.”

Though she’s more comfortable behind the scenes, Priscilla feels grateful to be acknowledged and celebrated with this award.

“I have a lot of admiration for my colleagues on my team and across UFV, and I’m humbled by the great work that is being done across the institution. I feel overwhelmingly appreciative and thankful, and deeply honored to be recognized this way.”