ABQ Times

On March 27, 2025, the University of New Mexico's Office of the President announced the recipients of the 15th annual Sarah Belle Brown Community Service Award. This award, established in 2009, honors the contributions of students, faculty, and staff of UNM in community service.

Doug Brown, the President of the UNM Board of Regents and former dean of the Anderson School of Management, created the award in tribute to his wife, Sarah Belle Brown. Sarah Belle Brown has been noted for her three decades of dedicated community service.

During the award presentation, University President Garnett S. Stokes addressed the recipients, acknowledging the importance of their achievements. Stokes stated, “Today, we celebrate the members of our UNM family who have made—and continue to make—extraordinary contributions both to The University of New Mexico and to the greater UNM community. ...While I know you do it all for something larger than yourself, tonight we get to celebrate you.”

The Sarah Belle Brown Community Service Award recognizes one faculty member, one staff member, and one student annually. Recipients receive both recognition from the university and a $1,500 award or scholarship, supported by Doug and Sarah Belle Brown. The awardees are selected for their dedication to public service and their contributions to UNM's mission.

The 2024 honorees were celebrated at University House by President Stokes. The award recipients included:

- Sarah Hernandez, an associate professor in the Department of English, recognized for her work in Native/Indigenous scholarship and her collaborations with local community members.

- Amy Gundelach, a certified clinical nurse specialist at UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center, honored for her involvement in community projects related to gynecological cancers and her comprehensive patient support model.

- Liliana Spurgeon, a graduate student in the Master of Public Administration program, praised for her community service work, particularly with the UNM Collegiate Recovery Center.

Stokes acknowledged the broader impact of the award and commented on its inspirational effect. She said, “The Sarah Belle Brown Award is presented to those who serve as examples of social responsiveness and who have dedicated their own time and effort to advancing our university’s mission of public service. That is the kind of generosity we can all aspire to.”