Amy Warren, Administrative Assistant in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, has been honored as one of 11 recipients for this year’s University of Arizona Individual Awards for Excellence.

Warren is a "transformative addition" to the department since taking on the job in 2018, one nominator wrote, saying she has gone above and beyond her assigned duties. One example: developing the department's social media presence. Another called her "kind, helpful and understanding" as the first point of contact for undergraduate students facing issues, saying Warren is especially effective at handling tense situations. 

The University Awards for Excellence are designed to recognize individual Classified Staff and Appointed Professionals for outstanding achievements in activities beyond normal duties. The awards are sponsored by the Classified Staff Council, the Appointed Professionals Advisory Council and the President’s Cabinet. Criteria include outstanding achievement in the workplace, exceptional contributions toward efficiency and effectiveness of operations, outstanding service to the University community and/or visitors, special efforts in promoting workforce diversity.

Warren is the second Department of Spanish and Portuguese staff member in a row to be honored with an Individual Award for Excellence, following Senior Program Coordinator Nichole Guard. In 2019, two College of Humanities staff members received Individual Awards for Excellence: Toni Alexander, Assistant Dean for Business and Finance, and Tyler Meier, Executive Director of the UA Poetry Center.