‘Shining light’ Syndi Haywood receives highest award for U’s Black faculty and staff

Dignity. Wisdom. Dedication. Excellence.

In these respects, Syndi Haywood is a shining light.

The associate director for UIT Voice Services and Business Administration in the Chief Technology Officer organization recently received the 2022 James McCune Smith Award of Veneration from the U’s Black Cultural Center (BCC) and Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA) for being an awe-inspiring example of those principles. Dr. Paul White, associate professor of social psychology and a vice chair of the Institutional Review Board, also received the award.

“James McCune Smith was an American doctor, pharmacist, author, and abolitionist, and someone Frederick Douglass once called the single most important influence on my life. He was also the first African American to hold a medical degree and run a pharmacy. On top of that, he was a member of the American anti-slavery society and helped found the National Council of Colored People,” BCC Director Meligha Garfield said during the ceremony.

It's the highest award given during the annual Black Faculty and Staff Awards, which were held virtually on February 26, 2022, as part of Black History Month celebrations. The event showcases and promotes Black faculty and staff for their work on campus and in the community.

Haywood has felt a whirlwind of emotions since learning about her nomination.

“It's very humbling and rewarding to be recognized. I have spent a lot of time on campus, and this award means so much to me,” she said. “I'm so passionate about the work that I do, and I'm glad that it resonates with others.”

Chief Technology Officer Jim Livingston said he is incredibly proud of Haywood, calling the award an important and well-deserved honor.

“I’ve always been impressed with Syndi’s commitment to excellence and dedication to the success of the University of Utah and the customers she serves. She is a tremendous example of professionalism and leadership,” Livingston said. “I feel very fortunate to work with Syndi in her role with the UIT leadership team, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from her experience and example.”

Haywood began her U career in December 1984 as a trainer and billing accountant in Telecommunications. She then became an IT account executive, developing a training program for IT account executives and service coordinators. She entered her first supervisory role as the customer service manager over IT service coordinators and account executives, and later transitioned to a product manager for Voice Services. She was then promoted to associate director for NetComm, becoming the first woman of color to hold a leadership role in UIT.

As associate director for Voice Services and Business Administration, she works with her team, UIT units, vendors, and users to ensure university phones are installed, programmed, functioning, and billed correctly, among other things.

“When I think of Syndi, dedication to her work stands out to me the most. She is totally committed to her work and takes real pride in supporting the university community day in and day out,” said James Rice, associate director for Unified Communications in the CTO organization. Rice is Haywood’s direct supervisor.

Haywood, whose team has been helping with the voice migration from Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams and compliance with new phone-related legislation, said she is currently focused on UIT and University of Utah Health Information Technology Services’ (ITS) equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts. She is part of the UIT-ITS EDI Committee.

“I’m bringing my experiences to the committee, trying to see change happen and make sure that everybody feels like they belong at the U,” she said.

One idea she’s pursuing is how to reach more Black students and encourage them to apply for and join the Student University Development Opportunity (SUDO) program, which provides paid, part-time jobs with hands-on IT experience.

“I mentioned SUDO to Meligha. I sent him the link to the SUDO website because I think that we need more representation from that group. A lot of Black students could benefit from working in our SUDO program,” Haywood said.

She’s always had a passion for helping young adults. Some of the most meaningful work she’s done includes helping young Utah artists to record music that wasn’t defamatory toward women and to succeed in that career path.

Haywood, who has a difficult time talking about her many contributions to the university and the community, said the veneration award holds special meaning because, like McCune Smith, her great uncle Dr. Hugh Browne was a physician and a pioneer in his field.

“There’s a sanitorium in Arkansas named after him because he was the one of the first African American doctors to start treating African American patients for tuberculosis,” she said. “… So, it means even more to me that I received that award because [McCune Smith] was an African American doctor as well.”

Haywood was among more than 150 people nominated for the Black Faculty and Staff Awards. She said this year’s 12 honorees stood out because they received multiple recommendations from their colleagues.

“I've been on campus for a number of years, and I've worked with a lot of different people during that time, but I was shocked to learn that so many people nominated me,” she said. “I don't have any idea who they were,” she said.

But she’s grateful.

Congratulations, Syndi!

 

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