Recipients of Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award Named

In addition to her position as administrative coordinator for Duke Medicine's chief human resources officer, Sarah Woodard connects with the Durham community as a deacon at St. Titus' Episcopal Church, a docent in the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, an organizer of the Asthma Walk and as a volunteer for Duke Hospice. Barbara Lau, director of the Pauli Murray Project in the office of the Duke Human Rights Center, also engages with the Durham community through her ongoing efforts to document the history of Durham's race relations. Both were named as co-recipients of the 2011 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, one of the university's top awards for community service. The award recognizes the qualities of generosity, service, integrity and deep spirituality. It also recognizes nobility of character, which the Sullivan Foundation defines as "when one goes outside the narrow circle of self-interest and begins to spend oneself for the interests of humankind."

Sarah Woodard (left) and Barbara Lau (right)

Duke has participated in the Algernon Sydney Sullivan awards since 2003, along with about 50 other Southern colleges.

"The award is a wonderful opportunity to publicly recognize persons in the Duke community -- generally those less well-known except to their immediate colleagues," said Duke University Provost Peter Lange. "It honors the wonderful work they do to make Durham and the lives of those who live here better and to deepen the relationship between Duke and Durham in meaningful, deeply human ways." 

Woodard and Lau will be honored in a recognition ceremony hosted by
the Office of the Provost in early May. The student Algernon Sydney
Sullivan Award winner will be announced April 18 at a Service Awards
Ceremony.

Watch a video of Barbara Lau describing the Pauli Murray project, or read more about Sarah Woodard's work as a hospice volunteer.