DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
The Distinguished Service Award recognizes endeavors that contribute to the welfare of individuals, professional organizations, university groups, the community at large, or the university.
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES M. Eliatamby-O'Brien — Department of English PhD, The University of British Columbia
We are pleased to recommend Dr. M. Eliatamby-O’Brien for the 2025 CWU Distinguished Faculty Service Award. An Associate Professor in the Department of English, Dr. Eliatamby-O’Brien has been a dedicated member of the CWU faculty since 2017, specializing in Global and Transnational Literature. Their extensive service builds upon a longstanding commitment to equity and inclusion at institutions including Simon Fraser University, the University of British Columbia, and the National University of Singapore. Since arriving at CWU, Dr. Eliatamby-O’Brien has served in numerous roles across departmental, college, university, and national levels. They have been an integral part of committees related to faculty search, curriculum, assessment, equity, general education, and retention. Notably, they served as a Faculty Senator (2019–2021), and as Director of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies since 2020. They have also contributed nationally and internationally as a book and article reviewer and conference presenter. What distinguishes Dr. Eliatamby-O’Brien’s service is their unwavering support of LGBTQ+ communities, particularly in rural Washington. With colleague Griff Tester, they co-founded
the Trans Rural Lives digital storytelling archive, giving voice to transgender elders in underrepresented regions. This work culminated in the Trans Rural Elders Conference, in partnership with Helen House, a local safe space for LGBTQ+ youth. Tylene Carnell, founder of Helen House, writes: “M. was a major partner and collaborator in capturing the lived experiences of trans elders—stories of survival, love, and everyday life—shared through recorded vignettes passed on to LGBTQ+ youth in rural Washington State and beyond.” Support letters from the PRIDE Foundation, the Washington Commission on Hispanic Affairs, and CWU colleagues further affirm the significance of Dr. Eliatamby-O’Brien’s service. Their work fosters intergenerational connection, combats isolation, and affirms the identities of rural LGBTQ+ youth. Dr. Eliatamby-O’Brien’s service is deeply interwoven with their teaching and scholarship, broadening perspectives and enriching the CWU community. We are honored to recommend them for the 2025 CWU Distinguished Faculty Service Award and celebrate their enduring contributions to equity, visibility, and institutional transformation.
| 19
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator