Described as “a giant of the art department,” Sam Hernández taught for 37 years at Santa Clara and was instrumental in developing the program from its small beginnings into its robust presence in the life of the University today. Sam was an inspiring teacher and was the first studio arts faculty member to receive tenure. He brought a wide range of interests to his classes and enjoyed hearing from previous students. Throughout his career, Sam received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including the National Endowment for the Arts Visual Artist Fellowship, Senior Scholar Fulbright Award, Artist Laureate for the Arts Council Silicon Valley, and the University Award for Sustained Excellence in Scholarship. A prolific sculptor and painter whose art was shown in museum and gallery exhibitions around the world, Sam died Oct. 17, 2022.