The Office of the President is currently accepting nominations for the prestigious Sarah Belle Brown Award that recognizes those faculty/staff/students who serve as examples of social responsiveness and who have, over an extended period, donated considerable personal time and effort advancing the University of New Mexico's public service mission through community service opportunities.

The faculty and staff recipients each receive a cash award of $1,500 and the student recipient receives a $1,500 scholarship, all generously endowed by Doug and Sarah Brown. The nomination deadline is Monday, Sept. 30 at 5 p.m.

Serving New Mexico is central to the University's mission. Everything UNM does from education, research, patient care and public service - advances the interests of New Mexico. To support and promote the University's commitment to public service, former Regent and current Anderson School Dean Doug Brown established the Sarah Belle Brown Community Service Award in honor of his wife.

Sarah Belle Brown has devoted considerable time to the community for more than 30 years. Her lifelong interest in helping children and her command of Spanish led her to specialize in teaching English to Spanish-speaking children in the Los Angeles School District. When she and her husband moved to San Francisco, she established a program in that school district focused on assisting newly immigrated Asian children to adapt to a new culture. While developing this program, she also served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in foster care and as Board Chair for the Children's Home Society, California's largest social services agency.

After relocating to New Mexico, Sarah continued her focus on children's needs as a trustee of Mount Vernon College and joined the founding board of the charter school, Amy Biehl High School. She is a founding member of the United Way of Central New Mexico's Alexis de Toqueville Society, co-founded the UNM President's Club, and co-sponsored a professorship and several fellowships at the Anderson Schools of Management.

In addition to her volunteer work and philanthropic activities, Sarah focuses a great deal of time on her family, a husband of 30 years and two grown sons.

Additional details as well as a nomination form can be found on the President's website at, Sarah Belle Brown Award.