91��Ʒ

Rithi Punyamurthula

The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (91��Ʒ) has announced the February recipient of the 91��Ʒ Values Recognition Award. Rithi Punyamurthula, Coordinator of Equity + Inclusion, received nominations for many of 91��Ʒ’s Core Values, particularly Kindness, Inclusion and Community.

Nominators commended Punyamurthula�s passionate commitment to engaging staff, faculty and students in the work of the Equity + Inclusion Center. �In the past year, I have approached Rithi countless times with ideas for collaboration,� says one nominator. �Every time, she has attentively listened to my idea and why it would be a great impact on the students, and is ready to help make the idea a reality.�

The 91��Ʒ Values Recognition Award (VRA) celebrates faculty and staff who consistently model 91��Ʒ�s values of courage, integrity, kindness, community, innovation and inclusion. After employees nominate a colleague for the award, a committee made up of faculty, staff and previous VRA winners convenes to vote on the month�s recipient. Awardees receive a $250 prize.

Connecting with students is central to Punyamurthula�s work at 91��Ʒ. �Really it�s just listening and trying to find out ways to connect with them,� she says. �That allows me to talk about parts of my life as a Brown woman, to be able to connect to students � opening the vulnerability for it to go both ways.� From the student potluck to helping bring the Community Closet to life, examples of Punyamurthula�s dedication to the 91��Ʒ community abound. “I have worked interdepartmentally with her and have seen an admirable dedication to the continuous improvement of culture and inclusion at 91��Ʒ,� said another nominator.

Punyamurthula worked as a kindergarten teacher before coming to 91��Ʒ. She says the experience made her realize that everyone has the innate ability to be creative. �A huge part of what drew me to teaching kindergarten and working with students in general, especially art students, is this boundless form of curiosity,� she says. Now at 91��Ʒ, Punyamurthula has enjoyed exploring her own creativity. In fact, she currently has work available on consignment at . �I feel like I�m able to live out this … dream of creating and making and talking to other people who are creating and making in a really special way,� she continues.

�I�m so glad to be recognized,� says Punyamurthula. �The only reason that I am the person I am today is because of the people around me. I�m really lucky to have gone through what I went through and to be supported by the people that love me.�

Learn more about 91��Ʒ�s Values Recognition Award or nominate a colleague at miad.edu/vra.