Aisha Torrey-Sawyer, director of diversity and inclusion initiatives, and interim senior advisor to the chancellor and chief inclusion officer, was named member of the year for the Tarrant County chapter of the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education (TABPHE). She was acknowledged at the June Living Legends Awards Program.

“It is an honor to be selected as the TABPHE Tarrant County Chapter Member of the Year and serve as treasurer over the past two years,” Torrey-Sawyer said. “I have truly enjoyed the opportunity to work with other outstanding higher education professionals in the Tarrant County area.”

Wafeeq Saleem Sabir, chapter president, said Torrey-Sawyer has served the chapter faithfully.

“Her selection as Member of the Year 2020-2021 was unanimous,” he said. “She is an accomplished leader, who is thoughtful in her approach and all that she does. She is simply beautiful.”

The local chapter’s mission is to provide professional development that enriches higher education personnel and improves career growth. Specifically, its goals are meeting like-minded people, networking, recruiting and retaining Black personnel and students in higher education and encouraging members to educate university leadership about recruitment and retention strategies for Black employees.

The TABPHE Tarrant County Chapter has a membership of personnel in higher ed from TCU, Tarrant County College, Texas Wesleyan University, University of Texas at Arlington, Tarleton State University and the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth.