Dr. Fabio Santos, RWC Assistant Professor of Mathematics, is the winner of the 2008 Diversity Is Beautiful Award. He was presented the award by Dr. Mitchel Livingston, UC Vice-President of Multicultural Affairs and RWC Dean Don O’Meara by surprise earlier today in his Physics class, while the award committee and colleagues from his department joined in the celebration. Dr. Santos was nominated by one of his Physics students. Her comments alluded to his ability to make all students feel valued as a part of the big community, while appreciating individual differences.
“… Dr. Santos is one of the best professors at Raymond Walters College,” the student stated in the nomination letter. “I am glad to say there are many people in my Physics class from different countries. Dr. Santos has a great sense of humor about the differences in our languages. Sometimes he will be writing in Spanish on the board, and he will laugh and then write it in English. He has opened my mind. Even though we all come from different places and speak different languages, the laughter is the same.”
The members of the RWC Diversity Is Beautiful Award Committee are Gwen Dean, Diane Rogers, and Helen Kegler.