College of Humanities Sen. Pamalatera Fenn
Wins ASUU Senator of the Year Award

Nominated by the student body, 2025-26 College of Humanities Sen.Pamalatera Fenn received the first-ever Associated Students of the University of Utah (ASUU) Senator of the year award. “I feel so grateful for everyone who recognized me,” she says. “It made me feel really nice that the students were like, ‘No, you did a lot, and we saw it.’” 

The ASUU Senate is responsible for representing students by allocating funds to Recognized Student Governments (RSGs), reviewing proposed legislation, , serving on the University Academic Senate and various university committees, and working on university policy issues that impact students.

While science and math fall under Fenn’s list of strengths, when deciding which college suited her best at the University of Utah, Humanities was the clear choice. “I found a place I could call home and where I felt supported,” she said. 

The sense of community within the college was overwhelming to Fenn, and because of her positive experience, she wanted to ensure that other students felt accepted in the humanities as well. “You are a human,” she insists “You aren’t a number. I wasn’t just there to be the best scientist or the best historian. I was there because I was Pamalatera, and I was seen as Pamalatera,” she adds.

As senator, Fenn let the student body guide her decisions and used her voice to advocate for students’ wants and needs. So, when a new LNCO building water bottle filling station was heavily requested by students, Fenn got to work. With help from the English department and U Facilities, the filling station was installed in February. 

“She didn’t just talk about it; she pushed for it until it actually happened,” says Allie Menzdorf, associate director of Student Leadership & Involvement.

Fenn not only won this award because of her accomplishments, but because she went above and beyond in her role. 

“I took a lot of time out of my day, and I would meet with clubs, and teach them how to apply for travel funding, how to apply for regular funding and how they could talk to the ASUU president. I had a lot of fun meeting with them,” she says. It was through deliberate actions like these that made the student body feel seen and supported by her. 

Along the way, Fenn learned that to best serve in her position, she had to lean on others and ask for help from time to time. Fortunately, she had many people by her side to support her, including from the Colleges of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Karen Marsh Schaeffer, director of student success, and Missy Weeks, marketing and communications specialist “If I never met Karen, I wouldn’t have been involved in the Humanities Recognized Student Government, the Humanities Ambassador program or ASUU; I also wouldn’t have met all the amazing people in the College of Humanities, like Missy, who have seen me when I wanted to quit, and instead pushed me to keep going,” she says.

Fenn also credited her mother and father who taught her it is about doing what is right, not what is easiest.

Fenn’s motivation and complete dedication to the student body have made an impact not only on the College of Humanities but also the university as a whole.