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Embracing Continual Learning

Dear VPFA Community,

As we enjoy the beauty and warmth of spring, it is a purposeful time to reflect on the importance of continual learning. We all know and have experienced that in today’s fast-paced environment, skills and knowledge can quickly become outdated. Embracing a mindset of continual learning allows us to stay relevant, adapt to changes, and seize opportunities.

One of the benefits of being part of a higher education community is our ready access to training programs and workshops offered by our Human Resources colleagues. You also have access to many fantastic learning opportunities coordinated by Queen’s diverse Employee Resource Groups and the Advancing Leadership Network.

I encourage you to take advantage of the resources and opportunities available to you, as modeled by Andrew and Shannon, two portfolio members featured in our Employee Spotlight section of this newsletter. Setting personal learning goals can be incredibly powerful, helping you stay focused and motivated. Remember that learning doesn’t have to involve major time commitments; even small, consistent efforts can lead to significant growth.

Continual learning is worth celebrating. I am very pleased to have joined the graduates of the Queen’s Career Gateway Program last week in marking the completion of their studies. These individuals have worked extremely hard to learn a new language while also building their workplace skills – I am always inspired by their stories of perseverance and determination.

As you enter this new season, may you find ways to cultivate and share your learning experiences with your teams. Fostering an environment where knowledge is exchanged not only enhances individual growth but also strengthens our community. Let’s be deliberate about celebrating learning achievements, sharing useful insights, and supporting each other in our journeys.

Thank you for your dedication to Queen’s and your commitment to continual learning.

Warm regards,

Donna
Donna Janiec, FCPA, FCA
Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration)

VPFA Remembers: Tad Nishina

Tad Nishina, a longtime staff member of IT Services, passed away on March 14, 2025 at the age of 53.

Tad began his career as a Student Advisor in the IT Support Centre and then transitioned to a full-time position in the Computing and Communications Services department in 1998. Tad held several positions during his time in IT Services, providing expert PC support and playing a key role in supporting teaching and learning tools. He later focused on infrastructure and application support, delivering services such as Email and Listserv. His most recent role was as Application Administrator, Microsoft 365. Tad’s tenacity, attention to detail, and sense of humour made him an invaluable member of the IT Services team, and he will be missed by all that knew him.

Andrew Beckett, Financial Services 

Andrew’s role as a Financial Systems Manager grants him daily opportunities to work with folks across the university, providing continuous learning and collaboration opportunities that keep him motivated and curious.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I collaborate with HR, Student and Finance departments, and IT Services on PeopleSoft upgrades and development. I also work with external vendors on existing or new processes and assist the community by answering questions or finding solutions to problems.

Because of this, no task or interaction is ever the same. The lack of repetition is what I enjoy most about my role.

What project have you recently been involved with that you’re most proud of? 

A project that the FAST team and I have been working on for several years involves developing and modifying reports within the FAST reporting tool.

Some of the most recent reports we’ve released include the Accounts Receivable (AR) Details and AR Aging reports, which eliminate the need to switch between FAST and PeopleSoft when running financial reports or reviewing AR information.  We have also introduced security reports, which were previously shared only once a year during the annual security review. Now, having these reports available in FAST allows departments to review security for their users on an ad-hoc basis rather than waiting for the yearly review.  Ongoing report development enhances data accessibility, streamlines reporting, and improves efficiency in data analysis.

Please tell us about your career journey.

I’ve worked in Queen’s Finance my entire career. I started with a work placement from college, where my main task was completing GST audits. After my placement, I was hired as a casual worker.

I then took on a position handling bank reconciliations, recording transactions in the general ledger, working with the bank on file transfers, and managing capital funds. In this role, I also helped transition the cheque reconciliation process from manually adding totals on dot matrix paper to electronic reconciliation in Excel.

My next position was in research accounting, where I submitted financial reports to funding agencies and collaborated with the research community. During this time, I developed an interest in how the financial system worked, which led to a small role in the transition from our DOS-based financial system to PeopleSoft. This naturally evolved into a more technical role alongside my research reporting responsibilities. 

I was later seconded to the Tools for Research at Queen’s team to help implement the FAST financial reporting tool, while still partially working in finance. Afterward, I returned to research accounting, where my responsibilities shifted entirely to system-related issues, including first-level support, break/fix testing, new development, and process streamlining.

From there, I transitioned from research accounting to my current role as Financial Systems Manager.

What motivates you?

I enjoy collaborating with others to find solutions to issues and enhance existing processes.

What have been some of the most important lessons you’ve learned throughout your career?

Don’t be afraid to fail or make mistakes: Failing or making mistakes is step one and two of learning how to do something the right way. Overcoming a setback while learning will stick with you much longer than getting something right the first time.

Understand your role in a process: Knowing what you’re doing and how it affects the entire process or task will help you perform better and become a more valuable employee.  In the words of Ted Lasso, “Be curious.” 

Be resourceful: You don’t always need to have the answer, but knowing how to find it is just as valuable.

Tell me about someone in your life and an important lesson they taught you.  

I’ll tell you about three people who taught me the same lesson: 

• My dad – While I was working on my bike, I tried to use vice grips and ended up stripping the nut. He showed me which tool to use to complete the job without causing additional damage. 
• My grandfather – He had me help change a tire on his lawnmower. My job was to lift the mower, and he showed me how to use a board for leverage. 
• One of my best friends – I spent hours hand-polishing the tunnel of my snowmobile to get it perfect. As I was admiring my work with a friend, he showed me a tool that could have done the job in just 20 minutes. 

The lesson? Use the tools that are available to you to work smarter, not harder. (Apparently, I needed to hear it three times!)   

What would you like to tackle next?

My next project is to work with ITS on a specific form intake process. This process is currently very manual and involves several data input points. We plan to explore the use of a scanning tool to import the data into Excel and then use that file to load the data into PeopleSoft.

What are your future goals/where do you see yourself in five years? 

I would like to take courses related to AI and the Power Platform to become more proficient in these areas.

I’ve been in Queen’s finance for over 20 years.  I’m committed to continuing my growth within this department.

What is one skill you’d love to learn?

I want to learn woodworking.  Taking raw materials and transforming them into a finished product seems incredibly satisfying. It's a form of art that I can understand and appreciate.   

What do you do for fun? Tell us about some interesting activities you would suggest to someone who wants to explore Kingston. 

I enjoy camping with my wife and son—it’s a great way to disconnect from electronics and relax by swimming, hiking, kayaking, or simply sitting by the fire. I also enjoy riding my bike and running with my friends for triathlon. 

If you're in or around Kingston, I’d recommend: 

1. A walk at Parrott’s Bay or Lemoine’s Point. 
2. A hike at Rock Dunder
3. Visiting MacKinnon Brothers Brewery to play cards, listen to live music, enjoy a food truck, play cornhole, and, of course, have a pint (or two).   

What book/movie/show has made an impact on you and why? 

A movie that had an impact on me was 100 Meters. It tells the true story of a man diagnosed with multiple sclerosis who, despite being told he would barely be able to walk—let alone run 100 meters—after a year, trains for an Ironman triathlon. This film inspired my own triathlon journey, with the goal of finishing an Ironman.

If you could choose one word that sums up Queen’s, what would it be and why? 

Community. While we all have our individual roles at Queen’s, we work together within and across our networks to support one another, grow, and develop with the shared goal of advancing the university. To me, that’s the true definition of community. 

Shannon Deline, Strategic Procurement Services

Shannon blends her extensive systems and process knowledge with a passion for driving positive change in her role as a Junior Analyst on the Procurement Systems team. As the university’s main acQuire support contact, Shannon’s heart for serving others and her love of learning shines brightly.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

The people! I love that I am able to interact and get to know so many different people in different roles at the University.

What project have you recently been involved with that you’re most proud of? 

I was part of the team that launched acQuire. I spent many hours helping to bring this baby to life and it has been fun to watch how it’s evolved over the last few years.

Please tell us about your career journey.

I’ve been working at Queen’s for 20 years – there’s a running joke that I started when I was 12! I started as a casual floater helping out in Financial Services and then landed in Accounts Payable for many years. When I was asked to help with testing for the launch of this new eProcurement system, I jumped at the opportunity. Fast forward to now, I’ve been part of the acQuire team in Procurement since it launched.

What motivates you?

Helping others and finding solutions that work for them keep me motivated. If I can help a few people in a day, mission accomplished.

What have been some of the most important lessons you’ve learned throughout your career? 

It’s about learning and growing. When supporting Queen’s clients I always do my best to provide the right answers and I often tap into my amazing colleagues for guidance and help when needed.

Tell me about someone in your life and an important lesson they taught you.

My sisters are two of the most resilient women I know. They have taught me to laugh at myself and not take life so seriously and that the bonds we share will last a lifetime. When things don’t always go as planned, I know I can always lean on them. 

What would you like to tackle next?

I’d be happy to continue growing and advancing at Queen’s. I’m always open to learning new things and would be thrilled to tackle some new initiatives.

What are your future goals/where do you see yourself in five years? 

As I continue to learn and build my skills and knowledge and hope to continue here at Queen’s. You never know what the future may hold but I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes me. 

What’s one thing on your bucket list? 

I’d like to travel more and explore the world – experiencing new cultures and different cuisines has always been at the top of my list! 

What is one skill you’d love to learn?  

I would like to be better at speaking in public. It terrifies me. I do it once in a blue moon and have been trying to do it more often, but I would like to kick that fear. 

What do you do for fun?  

I love walking around Kingston with the pups. Kingston is such a beautiful city. Just walking and taking in the scenery is great. We have some amazing restaurants all over the city and in the summer a lot of pet-friendly patios! 

What book/movie/show has made an impact on you and why?

These days, I try to steer clear of the news!! I watch to keep up with what’s happening in the world but the chaos and division is really unsettling. I try to limit my screen time and filter what I spend time watching so that I can control the impact.

If you could choose one word that sums up Queen’s, what would it be and why?  

Evolving. The last few years since the pandemic have been a constant change. I’m always intrigued to see how our leadership manages difficult times and is open to change when and where it’s necessary.