CMU-Q deans receive ESGR Patriot Award

Two members of the Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) leadership were awarded the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award for their support of employees who are serving in the United States military.

Dean Michael Trick and senior associate dean for faculty and research, Selma Limam Mansar, were nominated by Daniel Phelps. Phelps is an associate teaching professor of information systems at CMU-Q and a long-serving member of the U.S. Navy.

Phelps noted the importance of employer support for military reserve members. “It can often be difficult for a member of the reserves to balance multiple responsibilities, particularly over the past several years where mobilizations were frequent. I have had the benefit of the support of CMU and the entire community, and I can’t begin to tell you how much it is appreciated.”

The ESGR Patriot Award recognizes the efforts of employers to support reserve members through a wide range of measures, including offering flexible schedules, approving leaves of absence, and allowing time off prior to and after deployment.

Phelps has served two deployments since joining the CMU-Q faculty nearly 15 years ago. He has been a member of the Reserves for more than three decades.