Diversity Awardees Named

By Ioana Patringenaru | February 6, 2006

Thirty-six employees, departments and units that have worked to promote diversity at UCSD will collect their 2005 UCSD Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action and Diversity Awards next week at the Price Center.

“Overall, they’ve made exemplary efforts to make UCSD a welcoming place for diverse members of the UCSD and the local community,” said Paula Doss, director of Equal Opportunity/Staff Affirmative Action, of the awardees.

Take the Critical Care Unit on the 10th floor of the UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest. Staff members belong to many ethnic and age groups. They encourage one another to gain more skills, and some of them have become physicians, attorneys and registered nurses as a result. Staff members organized a fundraiser for a small orphanage in Tecate and children received food, treats and gifts for the holidays. Employees also created a multi-cultural library with CDs and videos for patients and their families. To make the unit a more human place, they bring in quilts and specialty foods, Doss said.

Or take Dan M. Gilbreath, director of the Office of Post-award Financial Services. More than half his staff are people of color, said Doss. His employees say he treats them with dignity and respect. Outside of work, he also performs community service. Gilbreath donated airplane miles to victims of Hurricane Katrina. He also works to help homeless youth, Doss said.

Chancellor Marye Anne Fox will hand out the awards at next week’s ceremony. The event is open to the public. To RSVP, contact Paul Tagliaferri in the Equal Opportunity/ Staff Affirmative Action department at (858) 534-3694 or ptagliaferri@ucsd.edu