Harris’ Eman Alsamara Receives Marlene F. Richman Award

Eman Alsamara, Assistant Director of Academic Advising, Dean of Students Office at Harris Public Policy, is this year’s recipient of the University of Chicago’s Marlene F. Richman Award for Excellence and Dedication in Service to Students. Recipients are nominated by students, and only one staff member at the University receives this distinction each year.

In her role, Alsamara advises students on academic matters in order to support them in achieving their goals and enhancing their experience. She is also Harris’ Student Disability liaison, serves on the Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Board, and plays a central role in coordinating international student initiatives.

Multiple student nominators praised Eman for her kindness, responsiveness, and unwavering commitment to them and their success. Whether she’s connecting with students over email, Zoom, or in-person office hours, she promptly assists students with academic and personal issues in a way that they value and that fosters trust. Students also praised Eman’s passion for issues of justice and diversity, and, as a member of the UChicago Muslim community, for “exemplifying someone who values their religious traditions and helps those of other faiths to also appreciate them.”

One student wrote, “Eman is one person you know who will go above and beyond for her students and the Harris community at large. There is never a bad time to reach her or any topic off limits. She’s someone you can be completely honest with.”

Another added, “I can feel that Eman really loves her job, and she is full of positive energy. I am grateful I met her before I start my career because she is the kind of person I want to become at work.”

“Eman has made herself an exceptional resource for students,” said Kate Shannon Biddle, dean of students at Harris. “She feels their concerns deeply and handles concerns with grace and determination. She is incredibly deserving of this prestigious award.”

“Eman is consistently learning about different policies and opportunities across the University to be the best resource she can to her advisees,” said Jen Lombardo, assistant dean of students for academic services and advising at Harris. “She is exceedingly compassionate, a strong advocate, and an unbelievably hard worker. I’m so thankful to have her at Harris and very pleased that Eman was recognized for her contributions to the school.”

Prior to joining Harris, Alsamara worked at the University of Illinois at Chicago as a Teaching Assistant for undergraduate criminology, law, and justice courses focused on criminological theory and for undergraduate intermediate and advanced Arabic language courses. She held two roles at the Arab American Cultural Center which is the first cultural center serving Arab Americans on a college campus in the United States. As Communications and Social Media Director, she organized and planned cultural and social events with over eight student organizations on campus and in the Chicagoland area while representing the cultural center. She holds a BA in Public Health from UIC with minors in Political Science and Public Policy and holds a Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in Public Policy.

Milvia Rodriguez, now Program Administrator, Undergraduate Public Policy Studies at Harris, was the most recent Harris staff member to receive the award, having done so in 2019.