Spellman Distinguished Leadership Award

The Spellman Award for Distinguished Leadership recognizes African, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander and Native American heritage students at the University at Albany who have made notable efforts to enhance the quality of life for the University community.

The Award for Distinguished Leadership is presented to students or organizations who meet one or more of the following criteria:

Have served as an appointed, elected or situational student leader;

Planned, organized or presented successful activities and programs for a student group, club or organization;

Functions and is recognized as a leader and role model by peers, faculty and administrators.

The program and the awards are named in honor and memory of Seth Spellman, Jr., past dean of the University's School of Social Welfare, serving until 1980. He was also a professor and past chair of the Department of Africana Studies, which he helped establish in 1969. In 1984, Spellman was awarded the rank of Distinguished Service Professor by the SUNY Board of Trustees for personifying excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership and community service.