Honoring a Cornerstone of CLA
Congratulations to Sarah Manriquez: 2025 Chancellor’s Cornerstone Award Recipient
The UAF College of Liberal Arts is proud to celebrate one of our own: Public Information Officer Sarah Manriquez has been named a recipient of the prestigious 2025 Chancellor’s Cornerstone Award. This highly selective honor recognizes staff members who demonstrate sustained, outstanding contributions to advancing the University of Alaska Fairbanks' mission and strategic goals.
Open to all UAF staff, excluding executive staff, directors, and faculty, the Chancellor’s Cornerstone Award highlights individuals who not only fulfill but far exceed the expectations of their positions. It honors those who embody dedication, innovation, leadership, and a spirit of service to the university community.
Manriquez’s recognition is richly deserved. As highlighted in the nomination materials, Manriquez has "redefined what it means to be a PIO in CLA." Faculty, staff, and students alike rely on her expertise, guidance, and tireless support. She has built strong media relationships that have significantly amplified the visibility of CLA events and programs. But Manriquez’s commitment doesn’t stop at promotion—she actively participates in events, often providing technical support like Zoom operations and troubleshooting across multiple, simultaneous engagements, all while maintaining professionalism and poise.
It’s common to see Manriquez at several CLA events in one evening, seamlessly moving from one engagement to the next, providing technical expertise or assisting with event setup. Her presence ensures that events not only occur but thrive. As one nomination states, "this kind of dedication is not a one-time occurrence—it’s the standard she sets for herself in every aspect of her work."
Manriquez’s influence extends beyond her official duties. She leads by lifting others up. "Even when balancing a demanding workload, she consistently checks in with her team to offer support, always seeking ways to help them grow professionally." Whether training teaching assistants, supporting administrative staff, or offering real-time assistance, Sarah exemplifies mentorship and collaboration in everything she does.
Chancellor Dan White dons a "Jamie Bear" bandana in honor of Sarah Manriquez and CLA at the Staff Recognition and Development Day in the Wood Center Ballroom on the UAF Campus Thursday, April 3, 2025.
Manriquez’s positive and solutions-oriented attitude radiates through everything she does. She is consistently available to faculty, students, and departments in need, even developing marketing services to help graduate students promote their thesis and dissertation defenses. When the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program’s SAGE Club struggled to find an advisor, she stepped up to help the student group find its footing.
Perhaps it was best summed up during a recent Solstice Poetry Cycle event, when the director captured Manriquez’s impact perfectly:
“Sarah may not run the University, but the University does not run without Sarah.”
In every endeavor, Manriquez embodies the heart of the College of Liberal Arts: fostering community, elevating others, and strengthening the connection between UAF and the Fairbanks community. We are thrilled to see her receive this well-earned recognition.
The College of Liberal Arts at the University of Alaska Fairbanks is the largest academic unit on campus, offering a wide range of programs across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and interdisciplinary fields. Through engaged teaching, creative work, research, and service, CLA enriches both the university and broader communities. It is through the dedication and passion of individuals like Sarah Manriquez that the college continues to thrive.