An ISU lecturer has received the City of Ames’ Humanitarian Award for her work in fostering diversity in Ames and at Iowa State.

Carlie Tartakov, lecturer in curriculum and instruction, received the award in November for her “true commitment to promoting understanding between peoples of all races, religions and cultures,” as stated on the award.

Tartakov received the award at the Nov. 18 Ames City Council meeting.

“I am committed to living up to what this award stands for and I am honored to be recognized in this way,” said Tartakov, program director for Dialogue on Diversity. “It will be a fine day, however, when there is no need to recognize individuals because most people would be working toward equity for all.”

Melanie Smith, graduate in curriculum and instruction and program assistant of Dialogue on Diversity, is a former student of Tartakov’s. The two now work side-by-side on a daily basis. The program consists of five one-credit classes in University Studies that bring students from various disciplines together to discuss diversity.

“She is someone who appreciates all human beings,” Smith said. “She believes in the worth of each individual and the idea that everyone has something to contribute.”

Tartakov is retired but continues to serve Iowa State as an assistant professor emerita. Smith said Tartakov believes in the Dialogue on Diversity program so much she has made an effort to remain active in it.

“It’s her life — it’s part of who she is — not just her job,” Smith said. Tartakov was also a co-founder of the Kuumba Multicultural School, an after-school program for elementary students in Ames that served as a prototype for multicultural, anti-racist education.

Judy Dolphin, executive director of the YWCA, nominated Tartakov, a former president of the YWCA, for the Humanitarian Award. Tartakov currently keeps busy as a part of the Iowa State Board of Education Equity Advisory committee, and is also involved with Alliance for Global Justice, Big Table Books and the Ames school district retention and recruitment for minorities.

Tartakov taught in elementary schools in California and Massachusetts for 23 years before she began her career at Iowa State in 1986. Tartakov received other awards for her efforts in the field of diversity including being honored by the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women in Politics, the ISU Student Affairs Human Relations Award and the Iowa Human Relations Outstanding Educator Award.

“Carlie epitomizes the term ‘humanitarian,'” Dolphin said in her nomination letter. “She is a mother to countless students of many backgrounds. She raises awareness wherever she goes, without alienating others.”