Sarita Tamayo-Moraga Recognized by the College of Arts and Sciences
Francisco Jimenez Reaching Out Award
In recognition of faculty and staff who, through their actions and contributions to our local and global community, strive to serve society’s most disadvantaged and under-served members.
Sarita Tamayo-Moraga’s colleagues say it best – “Sarita is an incredible team player with a tremendous sense of compassion.” And, “Sarita is a wonderful example of quiet leadership.”
A teaching professor in the Religious Studies Department, Sarita engages whole-heartedly both with her students and with community organizations that serve marginalized populations, particularly people experiencing homelessness. She has invested countless hours building a relationship with the mobile showers program through Catholic Charities. The program provides a safe, private space for people experiencing homelessness to shower, do their laundry, and pick up some hygiene essentials.
Sarita engages her students in this work through her Experiential Learning for Social Justice core course, as well as in her role as Faculty Director for the Unity Residential Learning Community (RLC). She brings guest speakers to campus to engage students and others in the realities of the local homelessness crisis and efforts to respond to it. And she has served as the link to students and campus life for the Unhoused Initiative the past two years.
Sarita cares deeply about people, and none more than students, whether they are in her classes, in her RLC, or students she has met and worked with. She works closely with those who struggle, and she goes above and beyond to make sure each student has the support they need to succeed. She has shared that compassion and commitment across the university.
Congratulations to Sarita, winner of the 2024 Francisco Jiménez Reaching Out Award.