Sahle receives UNC Massey Award, one of the university’s highest honors

Eunice Sahle, chair of the African and Afro-American studies department, won a Massey Award.
Eunice Sahle, chair of the African and Afro-American studies department, won a Massey Award.

Eunice Sahle, associate professor and chair of the department of African and Afro-American studies, has won one of the University’s highest honors.

She was selected by UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp to receive a 2013 C. Knox Massey Distinguished Service Award, one of the most coveted distinctions awarded to faculty and staff.

The late C. Knox Massey of Durham created the awards in 1980 to recognize “unusual, meritorious or superior contributions” by University employees. In 1984, he joined the families of his son, Knox Massey Jr., and daughter, Kay Massey Weatherspoon, in creating the Massey-Weatherspoon fund. Income from the fund supports the Massey Awards and Carolina Seminars.

Thorp will honor the recipients, who were chosen from nominations from the campus community, at an awards luncheon on April 27. Each will receive a $7,500 stipend and an award citation. With the growth of the endowment, each award is increasing from $6,000 to $7,500.

Sahle joined the African and Afro-American studies faculty in 2001 as an expert in the political and economic development of Africa in the context of globalization.

She became department chair on Jan. 1, 2012, during a very challenging period in its history. The department is now emerging from an academic crisis with vitality and rigor because of Sahle’s outstanding leadership, academic vision, inclusive work style, integrity and unselfish service. Her willingness to step into this leadership role at such a critical juncture is one indication of how deeply she cares about the University, its faculty and students, and the department’s role on campus.