Kharem Receives Robinson Equal Opportunity Award

3-25-98
University Park, Pa. --- Audrey Kharem, director of Student Support Services, Office of Undergraduate Education, is the 1998 recipient of Penn State's Dr. James Robinson Equal Opportunity Award.

The Dr. James Robinson Equal Opportunity Award is designed to recognize a University faculty or staff member who promotes the concept of equal opportunity through affirmative action and/or contributes to enhancing the educational environment of the University through improving cross-cultural understanding.

Kharem has been praised for her dedication to those students who need academic and counseling services, many of whom are low-income first-generation college students.

In addition, she has been an active force behind the unit's' diversity initiatives, helping to share and implement the diversity strategic plan and chairing a seminar on valuing diversity and mutual respect. Other activities include serving as adviser for the Penn State chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and a member of the Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity, Forum on Black Affairs and the planning committee for Disabilities Awareness Month.

Off campus, Kharem has been a major force as co-founder and director of the State College African American Community Organization and as education chairperson at the Unity Church of Jesus Christ. One accomplishment has been closer ties of AACO with the State College Area School District to enhance multicultural education and family initiatives. She has organized and sponsored such programs as Sister to Sister Career Day, Boyz to Men Career Day, Bridging the Gap Workshops, annual Cultural Family Fun Nights, an annual community Kwanzaa celebration and Sister Circle, a networking group of women of color.

"Audrey is a 'Sojourner Truth:' an unsung hero in this community who deserves recognition for her outstanding service," a colleague wrote.

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Contact: Vicki Fong at (814) 865-9481 Office or email at vyf1@psu.edu