Karno Dean’s Award Winner: Layla F. Sastry

The Phyllis J. Karno Dean’s Award for Leadership and Academic Excellence is awarded to sophomores who have shown great promise in their academics and demonstrated leadership on or off campus. Created in loving memory of Phyllis Karno, Jackson ’79. 

Layla F. Sastry (A23) is committed to social justice and the environment, working to empower individuals and communities adversely affected by environmental degradation. Layla has demonstrated solid leadership as Director of Community Relations for the student club Women’s Higher Education Now and as a teacher at her local synagogue. Additionally, Layla has worked for the United States Geological Survey, creating educational videos and a user-friendly website and helping scientists track coastal erosion in U.S. coastal national parks.