Santa Clara University

2009 Award Winner

Gerdenio "Sonny" Manuel

Sonny was a co-founder of the Eastside Project, which became the Arrupe Partnerships, now a major part of the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education. The project brought the concern for social justice firmly within the University’s curriculum, giving students a chance to learn from and develop relationships with people most in need. The project also resulted in many community-based learning sites at schools, parishes, and agencies across Silicon Valley.  Through the Building Partnerships for Diversity and Leaders for a Just World grants from the Irvine Foundation, Sonny structured programs to promote, coordinate, and advance campus-wide multicultural initiatives. He was the founding director of the Center for Multicultural Learning, now the Office for Multicultural Learning, which works closely with the Provost and the University Council on Inclusive Excellence to promote diversity through partnerships across the campus community.  He established a scholarship fund for undocumented students as well as a comprehensive support program for their success, The Hurtado Scholars, who are among our finest students.

Faculty Development Program
St. Joseph's Hall, Rm 113

Bill Sundstrom
Assoc. Provost for Faculty Development
408-551-7045

Anne Riconosciuto
Administrative Associate
408-554-2746

Fax: 408-551-1873