Alumni Achievement Award
College of Human Sciences
Established in 1992 to recognize College of Human Sciences alumni for meritorious service and/or distinguished achievements in areas such as business and industry, education, family and consumer sciences, and health
Cheryl Troutman Chatman
MS Child Development ’76
Maplewood, Minn.
Some call her Dr. Chatman; many call her an activist; others have nicknamed her “Mom” – but all call her an inspiration. Writes one of her nominators, “In Cheryl, I see a woman of great strength and self-esteem who is not afraid to involve herself and show others where she has traveled and what they can achieve. She instills in every person the sense of dignity, worth, human commonality, a higher purpose, and thirst to learn.”
Chatman, who has served as Concordia University’s executive vice president and dean of diversity for nine years, carries a wealth of experience working with diverse and underserved populations in the St. Paul, Minn., metro area, creating programs for low-income, single mothers to build their education and personal development; mentoring at-risk young adults and providing opportunities for them to gain after-school leadership experience; and serving as a liaison between communities and academia, creating harmony among the many ethnic groups in the urban school area.
For her involvement in civic, church, and campus groups, Chatman has twice been recognized by Concordia University with the Excellence in Action Award, which is given to individuals who show great pride, leadership, and attitude in their work at the university, and has received the Kwanzaa Unity in Family, Community, Nation, and Race Award and other community recognition for her efforts to bring together different ethnicities through faith, education, and community involvement.
