The Office of Diversity and Equity at the University of Colorado at Boulder has awarded seven faculty, staff and students the 2000 Equity and Excellence Award.
The awardees will be honored at the 15th Annual Equity and Excellence Awards Banquet and Graduation Ceremony on Thursday, April 27, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the University Memorial Center Glenn Miller Ballroom.
A distinguished Equity and Excellence Award will also be conferred at the awards banquet to the Arts and Science Diversity Committee, accepted by Dennis Van Gerven, professor of anthropology and director of the Honors Program.
Equity and Excellence Awards are given to faculty and staff whose work best exemplifies a commitment to promoting the principles of academic excellence, cultural pluralism and diversity in the university community. Students are selected who demonstrate outstanding service to the university community and within the culturally diverse communities on campus, in addition to demonstrating academic excellence. Awardees will receive a certificate and a $250 award at the banquet.
Valerie Embry, director of the Academic Excellence Program, is receiving a staff award for providing comprehensive retention services to low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities. She is particularly recognized for her expertise in issues facing minorities with disabilities. She also has spent long hours organizing Black Awareness Month activities at the university for several years.
Patty McDonald, program assistant in the School of Education, is receiving a staff award for her deep interest and commitment to diversity issues, including coordination and advocacy of various diversity projects in the School of Education and her close work with leaders in campus diversity initiatives.
Bud Coleman, assistant professor of theater and dance, is receiving the faculty award for his unwavering commitment to ensuring the success of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students, minority students and women at the university.
Ruth Cameron, graduate student in the School of Education, is being honored for her dedication to issues of the American Indian campus community and building connections among American Indian graduate students on campus. She also was instrumental in establishing the Center for the Study of Indigenous Languages at CU-Boulder.
Gregory Diggs, a doctoral student in the School of Education, is being honored for his work as resident manager in supporting and understanding the diverse international population living in CU Family Housing. He has worked diligently in supporting a more diverse university community through his involvement in minority recruitment efforts.
Robb Hernandez, an ethnic studies and journalism and mass communications double major, is being recognized for his activism. He has been extensively involved in issues of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered minority students, which includes the co-founding of Bridges, an alliance for GLBT minority students, and coordination of the gay arts festival on campus.
Michele Stein, a senior engineering major, is being honored for commitment to supporting women and minorities in engineering through her involvement in the SEED (Success in Engineering through Excellence and Diversity) program, organizing events to initiate connections within those communities.