Diversity Gala award nominations open

Nominations are open for six awards through the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion that will be announced during its third Diversity Gala.

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 26.

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 5 p.m. on March 15.

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

Last year’s winner was Georgina Wilson, a faculty member of the educational leadership department in the College of Education and Human Services.

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

The other awards are:

Distinction in Mentorship, awarded to recognize a person’s work in cultivating mentoring relationships to help improve a sense of belonging and graduation of college students. The nominees can include students, faculty and staff.

Provost’s Award for Exemplary Research and Scholarship, awarded to recognize a person who has focused their work on diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice to help solve global problems. The nominees can include students, faculty and staff.

Innovation in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice, awarded to 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), awarded to a person whose character embraces a civic duty to uphold societal needs. Nominees can include students, community leaders, community organizers, spiritual leaders, faculty and administrators/staff.

Outstanding Social Justice Leadership in Community Service (Group), awarded to people or organizations whose character embraces a civic duty to uphold societal needs. Nominees can include registered student organizations, community groups, community organizations, faculty, administrators/staff affinity groups and campus offices/departments/colleges.