SU Alumni Association Announces 2026 Alumni, Faculty Awards

By SU Public Relations

SALISBURY, MD---Five lifetime Sea Gulls making major contributions to their communities were lauded during the Salisbury University Alumni Association’s annual awards ceremony.

Winners were recognized in four categories: Gulls of the Last Decade (GOLD), Alumni Leadership, Service to Society and Honorary Alumni.

Gulls of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award

The Gulls of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award honors SU graduates within 10 years of earning their degrees in recognition of a commitment to excellence in post-collegiate life and a significant or ongoing commitment to extraordinary work, research or volunteerism. This year’s recipient was Juan Arango Millari ’20.

Millari advocates for domestic abuse victims and has helped hundreds of women escape abusive relationships through his organization, Romp eel Silencio (Break the Silence). Beyond his work helping women navigate resources for victims, he is president of the International Academy of Kindness in the Americas, was elected director of international affairs for the Colombian American Chamber of Commerce, and has been voted as an ambassador for the Salvadoran American Chamber of Commerce.

Alumni Leadership Award

The Alumni Leadership Award recognizes alumni who participate in the life of SU through personal involvement on leadership committees, association with the student body and engaging with fellow alumni, augmented by their enhancement to the University’s financial welfare. This year’s recipient was Glenda Chatham Clarke ’72.

Clarke met her husband, Robert G. Clarke, while standing in the registration line for first-year SU students in 1968. Following careers in education, the Clarkes retired to the Eastern Shore, where they endowed SU’s Glenda Chatham and Robert G. Clarke Honors College in 2020. Last May, they gave another special gift to name SU’s Glenda Chatham Clarke Arboretum, supporting the University’s award-winning horticulture staff while enhancing the campus. Both commitments have directly impacted the student experience.

Service to Society Award

The Service to Society Award is presented to alumni demonstrating contributions of service made for the betterment of society in a professional or volunteer capacity. This year’s recipients were Dr. Danielle Thomas ’13 and Chris Truitt ’02.

After graduating from SU, Thomas continued her education, earning an Ed.D. in addiction recovery. She has dedicated her career to serving child victims of human trafficking on the Lower Eastern Shore, joining the Life Crisis Center in Salisbury in 2023 to create, develop, and implement a human trafficking program initiated through a grant from the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy. In the past 18 months, the initiative has served more than 100 victims of child sex trafficking throughout the region, providing victims and their families with basic needs, resources, and preventative education materials.

Over the past 22 years, Truitt has risen through the ranks of the Salisbury Fire Department, currently serving as deputy fire chief of administration. As a paramedic and firefighter, he served for several years as the department’s chief emergency medical services (EMS) officer, securing grant funding for the annual cancer testing of firefighters and purchase of life-saving automated external defibrillators (AEDs). He also oversaw the department’s becoming its own EMS operational program, allowing personnel to participate in advanced protocols and treatments. Additionally, Truitt is a co-founder of the Salisbury Paramedic Foundation, which provides support for AEDs in the community, equipment for the fire department, and scholarships for paramedic students.

Honorary Alumni Award

In addition to SU’s traditional alumni awards, the University bestowed the title of honorary alumnus to community member Brent Miller.

The managing director and senior advisor of SVN|Miller Commercial Real Estate, Miller has more than 35 years in the commercial real estate industry and has been involved in more than 1,000 transitions, helping to guide the firm to consistent recognition as one of SVN’s top 10 offices nationwide. Beyond his professional achievements, he is an engaged civic leader, actively involved with the Greater Salisbury Committee and Rotary Club of Wicomico County.

At SU, Miller has been engaged with the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra, Sea Gull Athletics, and the Franklin P. Perdue School of Business, through which his family established the Brent and Amy Miller Sales Scholarship. He also has been a mentor and leader in the Perdue School’s Mid-Atlantic Sales and Marketing Institute (MASMI) and served on SU’s most recent campaign steering committee. In addition, he has been a strong supporter of the SU Foundation, Inc.’s annual Golf Classic fundraiser, as well as SU’s Food for the Flock campus food pantry and Student Emergency Grant Fund.

With his honorary designation, he officially joins the Sea Gull community along with his wife, Amy M’94.

Faculty Appreciation Awards

Also recognized during the ceremony were this year’s Faculty Appreciation Award recipients. They included Lisa Joyner ’89, M’03 (Respiratory Therapy) in the College of Health and Human Services, Dr. Lance Garmon (Psychology) in the Charles R. and Martha N. Fulton School of Liberal Arts, Dr. Stephen Habay (Chemistry) in the Richard A. Henson School of Science and Technology, Dr. Herman Manakyan (Finance) in the Franklin P. Perdue School of Business, and Dr. Alexander Pope (Secondary and Physical Education) in the Samuel W. and Marilyn C. Seidel School of Education.

In addition, Dr. Jon Andes (Leadership and Literacy Studies, Seidel School) received SU’s inaugural Excellence in Teaching Award. The honor recognizes outstanding non-full-time-tenure-track faculty members who demonstrate exceptional commitment to student learning, instructional excellence, and academic mentorship.

In their nominations, alumni frequently gave eloquent and heartfelt praise to this year’s recipients, whom many said helped shape their experiences at SU.

Joyner “emphasizes that patients must always come first, while also teaching that compassion extends to family members and coworkers alike” and “reinforces the importance of caring for one’s own mental health,” said one former student, calling her “a true inspiration and a model for what aspiring respiratory therapists should strive to become.”

Garman fostered “engaging discussions and thoughtful insights,” and “demonstrated [a] deep commitment to students and [a] genuine interest in supporting their academic growth,” said a former student. “Dr. Garmon’s enthusiasm for teaching continues to inspire me, and I strive to bring that same energy and passion to my future classroom.”

Habay is “a brilliant chemist [whose] enthusiasm and energy for his field consistently inspire students to achieve at the highest levels,” said an alum. A second former student echoed that sentiment: “Students relate easily to Dr. Habay and are motivated by his genuine and contagious love of science.”

Manakyan “has made a lasting impact on generations of students, challenging them to think critically and apply theory to real-world financial decision making,” said a former student, noting, in particular, his Practicum Portfolio Management class, in which students invest and track real money through SU’s Sea Gull Fund: “His guidance, high standards, and commitment to experiential learning have prepared countless students for successful careers in finance.”

Pope “has made a profound and lasting contribution to SU’s mission of public service,” said an alum, noting his leadership in securing SU’s American Council on Education and Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Elective Classification for Community Engagement. The alum also praised Pope’s teaching, adding that his Social Studies Methods Courses “emphasize inquiry, civic responsibility, and reflective practice.”

Andes “is the epitome of an exemplary educator, deeply committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of his students and colleagues,” said a former student, for whom Andes served as a mentor. “He understands the complex challenges educators face; yet, he consistently encourages each of us to act as agents of changes, striving to create a more equitable educational system.”

In addition to this year’s Faculty Appreciation Awards, winners from 2021, whose ceremony was canceled due to COVID-19 guidance, were honored. They included Drs. Brandye Nobiling (Public Health) of the College of Health and Human Services, Brian Polkinghorn (Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution) of the Fulton School, Eugene Williams (Biological Sciences) of the Henson School, Stephen Adams (Management and Marketing) of the Perdue School, and Claudia Burgess (Early and Elementary Education) of the Seidel School.

For more information about alumni engagement at SU, visit the SU alumni webpage.

Learn more about SU and opportunities to Make Tomorrow Yours at the SU website.