In recognition of their commitment to diversity, Leslie Eldenburg, vice dean of the Eller College of Management, and Christine Salvesen, director of Academic Success and Achievement, have been presented with Vision Awards by the  Commission on the Status of Women.

Both were nominated by colleagues within their departments.

The Vision Awards were created in 1999 to honor deans, department heads, directors and chairpersons who manage in ways that cultivate diversity.

In Eldenburg's nomination packet, her colleagues praised her for mentoring countless students as well as for "her unequaled work ethic, her dedication to our college and all of its constituencies, her calm presence, her practical approach to problem solving, her willingness to listen and to make difficult decisions when necessary."

In introducing Salvesen for her award, her supervisor, Jeff Orgera, executive director of the Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques Center, noted that she runs programs that serve underrepresented UA students and Arizona residents.

"Her knowledge of the campus and our organizational structure has really served us well in her current role and in her previous roles," he said.

Salvesen's nominators wrote, "The nature of her work reveals her dedication to equity and access," but "it is her ability to bring people together to expand that impact that is truly noteworthy."

They went on to say Salvesen "is always careful to bring everyone to the table, recognizing the needs of different communities" to ensure that events she oversees are "welcoming, inclusive and accessible to all."

On accepting her award, Salvesen said, "I've been in CSW for six years, so I know how meaningful these are. … You surround yourself with great people, and you do great work. That's always been my motto."

Eller Dean Len Jessup introduced Eldenburg at the presentation.

As vice dean, "she established herself as someone who you knew would go out of her way to make a very fair decision," he said.

As interim dean, she was a "steady hand at the wheel," he added. Eldenburg served in the position for the spring semester last year after Paul Portney stepped down to join the department of economics faculty.

She helped Jessup to transition into his position as dean, and the transition would not have been effective and smooth without her there to guide him, he said.

"I personally feel a debt to Leslie," Jessup said.

Eldenburg said, "Both the staff and the administrative team mentored me. They really encouraged me to have a collaborative model."

She joked that men are more able to fly by the seats of their pants, while women prefer to be prepared, citing the difference between the size of a man's wallet and a woman's purse as proof that women like to be more prepared.

But women bring a good and different perspective to their work, she said.

"We don't feel as comfortable flying by the seat of our pants," Eldenburg said, "But we can do it."