Diversity award nominations open

The Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is accepting nominations through the end of the month for its second Diversity Gala awards.

The six awards recognize the contributions of people and organizations that help make Central Michigan University – and the Mt. Pleasant community – more inclusive. Winners will receive their awards at the gala on April 28.

Members of the CMU community can complete an online nomination form to suggest students, faculty or staff members, and university groups for consideration. Nominations are due by noon on March 1.

Among the evening’s awards is the Dr. Diane E. Newby Award, given to an individual who is  working towards developing inclusive, equitable and just practices, teaching and/or educational policy.

Last year’s winner, Dr. Amy Ford, a professor of English language and literature, was recognized for teaching students to recognize their own identities, to view their identities as assets and to view the diverse identities of students as assets in teaching.

Nominees can include students, registered student organizations, faculty, tutors, teachers and administrators.

The other awards are:

• Distinction in Mentorship, given to recognize a person’s work to create a nurturing learning environment focused on diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. The nominees can include students, faculty and staff;
• Exemplary Research and Scholarship, given to recognize exceeded expectations in communicating in ways that focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. The nominees can include students, faculty and staff;
• Innovation in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice, for people or groups that have implemented creative approaches towards meeting CMU’s DEIJ priorities. The nominees can include students, faculty, staff, registered student organizations and athletics teams;
• Outstanding Social Justice Leadership in Community Service (Individual) devoted to focusing on societal needs and the needs of communities. Nominees can include students, community leaders, community organizers, spiritual leaders, faculty and administrators/staff; and,
• Outstanding Social Justice Leadership in Community Service (Group) devoted to focusing on societal needs and the needs of communities. Nominees can include registered student organizations, community groups, community organizations, faculty, administrators/staff affinity groups and campus offices/departments/colleges.