Harvard Foundation recognizes students, faculty, race relations

Forty-five students, two race relations tutors, and a distinguished faculty member were honored by the Harvard Foundation for exceptional contributions to improving intercultural and race relations at Harvard College on April 30, as part of the annual Harvard Foundation Student/Faculty Awards Ceremony and Aloian Memorial Dinner, held in Quincy House.

Sandra Naddaff, director of studies in the literature concentration, senior lecturer on literature and comparative literature, and master of Mather House, was honored with the 2010 Faculty of the Year Award.

Said S. Allen Counter, director of the Harvard Foundation, “When President Derek Bok established the Harvard Foundation in 1980, it was his wish that in the absence of race and ethnic houses, such as those at Yale and Princeton, Harvard’s residential Houses would become multicultural centers, and beacons of intercultural enlightenment with the support of their directors, or masters,” said Counter adding, “No one has exemplified the mission and spirit of the Harvard Foundation in the Harvard Houses more than Sandra Naddaff. In addition to being a distinguished faculty member and administrator, she has been a source of great inspiration and support to the foundation and our mission to improve intercultural and racial understanding in the Houses.”

Faculty, administrators, House masters, and students nominated the student award recipients, and the winners were then chosen by the faculty and student advisory committee of the Harvard Foundation. Seniors who demonstrated outstanding commitment to improving intercultural life at the College and beyond the University received Distinguished Senior Awards. Harvard Foundation Insignia Awards were given to students who displayed a sustained effort to improving racial and ethnic harmony at the College. The foundation also recognized underclassmen who made notable contributions to the intercultural life at Harvard College with Certificates of Recognition.

Jacqueline C. Hairston ’10 was elected by fellow students to receive the Harvard Foundation Peer Recognition Award for commendable leadership, and Race Relations Tutors Raquel Kennon of Pforzheimer House and Carl Miller of Eliot House were also recognized with awards for their intercultural initiatives in the residence halls. Counter presented the Director’s Award to Nworah Ayogu ’10 to honor his outstanding contributions to undergraduate student activities and four years of dedicated service to the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations.