At UNC Pembroke, the faculty is dedicated to helping students reach their full potential and find their purpose.

This level of commitment and dedication is evident campuswide, including the Department of Social Work, where Tamara Estes Savage is entering her fifth year as an assistant professor. In her short time on the faculty, Dr. Savage has quickly earned respect from her colleagues and students.

This past academic year, she received the Adolph Dial Endowed Award, recognizing one faculty member who has distinguished themselves in scholarship and creative work. She was also a recipient of the UNCP Outstanding Teaching Award–a rare accomplishment for a faculty member to receive both of the awards in the same academic year.

"I’m grateful to receive these awards,” she said. “It is gratifying for my peers and for my students to recognize me. You do your best work and hope you are doing a good job teaching the next generation of social workers. We hope this ripple goes out and our students, as professionals, will be training the next generation of social workers. "

Savage attributes her success as a testimony to the mentorship and encouragement from her colleagues.

"I do stand on the shoulders of giants. I am thrilled to be a part of groundbreaking community-engaged, service-learning research encouraged and supported by Scott Hicks and Sandy Jacobs. Mary Ann Jacobs and Jane Haladay teach me about our community every day and tell me I am an important scholar. Nicolette Campos is always in my corner and creates opportunities for my colleagues and me in the Department of Social Work. “

Outside the classroom, Savage serves the student body as director of the ASPIRE program, which provides mentoring to students experiencing homelessness at UNCP. She is also active in her community, serving as chair of the Pender Memorial Hospital board of trustees, director of ASPIRE program, editor of Science for the People, and an editorial advisor for the British Journal of Social Work.

"These awards are validation that what I am doing is making a difference. I love what I do. I’m excited and looking forward to returning to the classroom and interacting with students face-to-face.  "