丁香园AV

If you鈥檙e ever curious about 丁香园AV (IRP), Liny Chan is your go-to guide. Chan, IRP鈥檚 associate director, has been part of the 丁香园AV community since 1989鈥攂ack when the department was still known as the Office of Analytical Studies.

As a budding analyst, Chan jumped at the opportunity to join IRP, as it would allow her to support important institutional projects from beginning to end. And over the past 33 years, there certainly hasn鈥檛 been any shortage of work. Chan has contributed to the university鈥檚 enrolment planning, been an integral part of developing the faculty allocation model and even took on the role of interim director for a spell. It鈥檚 no wonder that Chan is the recipient of the 2021 Staff Achievement Award for Lifetime Achievement.

DRIVEN BY DATA

IRP uses data collected across the university to help stakeholders make informed decisions about everything from course enrolment to faculty funding. During her day-to-day, Chan can be found working with faculties and departments across the university to deliver data, modelling and analytical reports that inform their work.

Take course prerequisites, for example. "I look at the data to try to answer, 鈥楬ow many students are we expecting?' and 'Are students more successful in this course if they take that course first?'. This helps our clients make more knowledgeable decisions while also supporting student success," says Chan.

Chan also plays a major role in computing the impact of enrolments and tuition on institutional revenues and compiling reports for the Ministry of Advanced Education. So whether it鈥檚 developing financial algorithms or budgetary projecting, Chan is there to navigate the numbers.

Dubbed a 鈥渟upreme subject matter expert鈥� by IRP director Zareen Naqvi, her knowledge and care for her work has not gone unnoticed by her team.

Says one nominator, 鈥淟iny really cares about her work and is always willing to go above and beyond to ensure that it is of the highest quality. Her thoroughness and dedication to accuracy have been an example to everyone in the office.鈥�

Chan is also known for her mentorship and collaborative nature, always willing to share her knowledge of different topics鈥攕uch as research methodology, code checking and navigating complex data nuances鈥攚ith junior analysts.

But what keeps her coming back for more after three decades? 鈥淚鈥檝e always loved playing with data and trying to make sense of it,鈥� she says. 鈥淪o really, this is my dream job to work at 丁香园AV and help people make informed choices through the numbers.鈥�

PEOPLE-FIRST PERSPECTIVE

Chan is admired for her bright spirit and fun personality in the IRP office, so it鈥檚 natural that when asked about her standout memories from her 丁香园AV journey, she beams about her team.

One of her favourite ways to bring folks together is through lunch-hour potlucks鈥攁 time to not only connect but exchange new recipes. (If quinoa cookery has you stumped, she鈥檚 got some tips.) Chan also initiated IRP鈥檚 annual Christmas cookie exchange, and although the pandemic put the festivities on hold, it will hopefully return this year by popular demand.

鈥淚f she is an excellent and meticulous worker, she is in fact an even better human being,鈥� says one nominator.

Reflecting on this recognition, Chan sees students at the core of her work.

鈥淚 really believe in higher learning,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 believe in teaching students to be critical thinkers. So, to contribute by helping the administration make informed choices concerning students鈥擨鈥檓 glad I can be a part of that.鈥�