Awards Honor UCSD's Diversity Champions

By Colleen DeLory | February 14, 2005

Chancellor Fox congratulates the staff instructors of the Chancellor's Undergraduate Diversity Leadership Institute. L-R: Emelyn dela Peña, Director, Women's Center; Chancellor Marye Anne Fox; Shaun Travers, Director, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center; Edwina Welch, Director, Cross-Cultural Center

On Tuesday, UCSD celebrated the individuals and organizations involved in enhancing diversity on campus. The 10th Annual Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action and Diversity Award Program highlighted significant achievements in creating a culturally competent and socially just working and learning environment.

"We're trying to develop a family at UCSD-a family that brings everybody to the same table and allows us to each enrich our lives because of that coming together," said Chancellor Fox in her remarks at the Price Center Ballroom ceremony.

"Diversity has to be one of the top priorities of this institution," Fox continued, highlighting the appointment of Jorge Huerta as chief diversity officer, anniversaries of campus community centers, UJIMA Network's contribution to celebrating Black History Month at the university, and the Chancellor's Undergraduate Diversity Leadership Institute among other efforts towards diversity education and inclusion.

Award recipients comprised individuals and organizations nominated by campus peers, and vice chancellor nominees. Awardees embody and exemplify the university's Principles of Community, which support a climate of fairness, cooperation, and professionalism. Departments are also recognized for showing progress in increasing hires of underrepresented groups.

"Building a community that welcomes diversity is vitally important. It's about inclusion and respect," said Paula Doss, a recipient of vice chancellor recognition for Business Affairs and director of Equal Opportunity/Staff Affirmative Action within the UCSD Human Resources Department, which sponsors the awards. "It's reaching out to all populations. For example, one awardee is being recognized for her work on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender healthcare issues, while others created an educational forum on the prevention, treatment and accommodation of disabilities."

This year's Diversity Award recipients.

The honored UCSD faculty and staff have mentored and created opportunities for minority students, introduced new multicultural learning models, launched conferences to educate ethnic communities, founded leadership initiatives on campus, and fostered a host of other initiatives and goodwill to enhance the university community.

Awardees nominated by campus peers were Renee Barnett Terry, Laurence L. Brunton, Judith F. Carlson, Roulla Drego, Johanna Malaret, Jeanne E. Manese, Suzanne L. McPhatter, David R. Miller, Helen M. Szkorla, Deborah Morton, Alicia Avila Outcalt, Wayne Suiter, and Darlene V. Willis.

Organization recipients were the Microbiology Laboratory; San Diego EXPORT Center of Excellence in Partnerships for Community Outreach, Research on Health Disparities and Training; Chancellor's Undergraduate Diversity Leadership Institute; Trio Outreach; Small Business Vendor Fair Team; Department of Structural Engineering; and Disability Awareness Month Planning Group.

Vice chancellor awardees were Jeanne Ferrante-Academic Affairs; Paula C. Doss-Business Affairs; Edward Furtek-External Relations; Patrick J. Olsen-Healthcare; Deborah A. Seidle-Health Sciences; Sarah Mesnick-Marine Sciences; Veendah McCunney-Resource Management and Planning; and Loren Thompson-Student Affairs.