The student government association at the University of Miami, has a established an award to honor Patricia A. Whitely, the university’s vice president for student affairs. The Patricia A. Whitely Unsung Hero Award will be given annually to a student government official who goes above and beyond his or her responsibilities.
“I don’t think Dr. Whitely could be any more deserving of this honor,” said Brandon Mitchell, outgoing student government president. “For 15 years, Dr. Whitely’s motivation has been the students, and to have the students recognize her for those tremendous years of growth and advancement is something that we are proud to do. She is a wonderful leader, mentor, friend, and great supporter of student government.”
“We thought that naming an award after her would be the best way to show how much she truly means to us,” said Ashley Taggart, outgoing student government vice president. “It is a rare thing at a university to have a vice president for student affairs who works so closely with students from all areas of campus, and it is administrators like Dr. Whitely that make the University of Miami an extraordinary institution.”
Dr. Whitely is a graduate of St. John’s University. She holds a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina and a doctorate in higher education from the University of Miami.