ARHU 2024 Service Award Winners Announced

Five exceptional members of the ARHU community received an annual service award.

By ARHU Staff 

Each year, the College of Arts and Humanities honors faculty, staff members and students who have demonstrated excellence through service to their departments and the college.  

2024 ARHU Service Award winners: 

Elsa Barkley Brown, associate professor in the Department of History and the Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | Faculty Service Award, Service to College

Elsa Barkley Brown’s extensive service work spanning decades has had broad impacts across multiple units, the college and the wider university community. In a nomination letter, Neda Atanasoski, chair of the Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, wrote that Barkley Brown “does not view service as a bureaucratic function in the life of a faculty member,” but as an opportunity to foster meaningful dialogue and collective decision-making, and to shape and transform institutions and students. Among her contributions to the college: she twice served on the Dean’s Senior Scholar Selection Committee, has served on a number of search committees as well as the African American Digital Humanities Advisory Board, the Committee on New Technologies and the Committee to Vet Online Teaching Proposals. She has simultaneously held multiple administrative positions in her home departments, led curriculum development and helped select student award recipients, among many other responsibilities. Barkley Brown is especially passionate about securing support for underrepresented and minority students. In a nomination letter, Philip Soergel, professor of history, wrote: “She is committed to making the university a better place for students of all backgrounds, income levels and races. And so, she does everything in her power to serve the university as a way of service to her departments, her students and other members of the faculty.”  

Bayley Marquez, assistant professor and director of graduate studies in the Department of American Studies | Faculty Service Award, Service to Department

Described by her graduate student nominators as a “ray of sunshine,” “life-raft” and “mentor for all” whose “door is literally always open,” Marquez is celebrated for her efforts to establish an open and supportive relationship with students and nurture a sense of community in the department. Upon becoming director of graduate studies last summer, she immediately began to implement new supports for graduate students in the department, soliciting feedback on how best to provide support, revamping pedagogy workshops, holding open office hours, developing mental health check-ins, securing funding for social events and supporting the creation of a new graduate student organization. “As a professor and an administrator, Dr. Marquez fosters a community of care and demonstrates an active engagement with her students, not just as students, but as people with lives and responsibilities outside of the university,” wrote doctoral student Nina Versenyi. “It is common for both graduate and undergraduate students to visit her office not just for academic support but also to enjoy a snack from her thoughtfully stocked shelf of treats,” wrote doctoral student Jasmin Pineda. 

Sarah Snyder, associate director for communications in the College of Arts and Humanities | Staff Service Award, Service to College

An unwavering advocate for ARHU, Sarah Snyder constantly finds new ways to highlight the accomplishments of the college’s faculty, students and staff. She has successfully garnered media attention across a range of prominent outlets—from reviews of performances at The Clarice or gallery exhibits to interviews with subject matter experts. Snyder is also generous with student journalists from The Diamondback and other campus outlets, providing her time and expertise to help them develop thoughtful stories about ARHU. “Even as local arts media outlets have dwindled, she continues to find inventive ways to share the college’s achievements,” wrote Jessica Weiss, ARHU writer/editor, “ensuring that the work happening within ARHU is recognized and celebrated both locally and nationally.” She also regularly puts in extra time during non-standard work hours to attend performances and events and coordinate with photographers and journalists. “She does this all with grace and a deep respect for the value of the creativity and knowledge produced by our students, faculty and staff,” wrote Kelly Blake, assistant dean of marketing and communications. “She cares deeply about how the arts and humanities provide a way for people to see each other more fully and empathetically, and is also very practiced and good at … being careful about the timing of stories, the words we choose, and the people who need to be consulted to ensure we are getting it right.”  

Charlotte Yuk Fan Tai, business manager in the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures | Staff Service Award, Service to Department 

Nominated by more than 30 faculty, staff and graduate students in the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (SLLC) who said “life in the school would be unimaginable without her,” Charlotte Yuk Fan Tai has a reputation for her professionalism, reliability, patience and kindness. Nominators cited her help with understanding budgets and business processes, assistance in event planning, contributions to grant submissions and in post-award grant administration, support for new staff and more. She has also been a pillar in the midst of several staff changes. ”When hard times, vacancies, administrative cuts and other unforeseen events came to the SLLC community, Charlotte was there to help each and every single one of us,” wrote Professor Carmen Benito Vessels. Associate Professor and Associate Director for Undergraduate Academic Affairs Peter Glanville wrote on behalf of all nominators “how lucky we are to have [Charlotte]” in SLLC: “Charlotte consistently goes above and beyond the standard duties of her job to make [faculty, staff and students] feel welcome and supported.” 

Rudy Sunrin Kim, Ph.D. student in communication | Graduate Student Service Award

Rudy Sunrin Kim is staunchly committed to mentoring fellow graduate students—most notably by providing training as well as creating a sense of community among the incoming cohort of graduate students in the Department of Communication. As a graduate assistant for the department’s Graduate Studies Committee, Kim has played a vital role in supporting the program’s students, as well as contributing to the department’s outreach, student engagement and community-building efforts. Over the summer, she held office hours and organized focused information sessions, addressing concerns like living arrangements, academic and research expectations, and teaching responsibilities. She also utilized various communication channels to offer continued support. “These efforts helped ensure that new students felt prepared, informed, and welcomed into the academic environment,” wrote Associate Professor and Associate Chair Lindsey Anderson, the co-director of graduate studies. Tania Nachrin, a first-year international Ph.D. student in the department, wrote that she especially appreciated Kim’s leadership and mentorship as an international student. “Rudy has actively supported her peers … by offering guidance and creating a sense of belonging,” she wrote.

Pictured left to right, top to bottom: Elsa Barkley Brown, Bayley Marquez, Sarah Snyder, Charlotte Yuk Fan Tai, Rudy Sunrin Kim.