UCSD Celebrates Diversity and Service with Awards

January 26, 2008

Thirty individuals, units and departments will be recognized for their contributions to diversity and equal opportunity at UC San Diego and beyond 2 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Price Center West Ballrooms, officials announced last week. They will receive the 2008 Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action and Diversity Awards.

The awards recognize individuals, departments and organizational units that have made outstanding contributions in support of UCSD’s commitment to diversity.  A review committee composed of representatives from each vice chancellor area evaluated the nominations and recommended the recipients for approval by Chancellor Marye Anne Fox.

This year, the awards went to 20 individuals and 10 departments or units. Recipients are:

VICE CHANCELLOR RECIPIENTS:

• Human Resources unit of the Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor - Academic Affairs
• Temporary Employment Services - Business Affairs
• Patricia Carson, director of Development Services and Andrea Ravel-Graves, training coordinator - External Relations
• George Hightower, M.D. Ph.D. student - Health Sciences
• SIO Diversity Website - Marine Sciences
• Counseling and Psychological Services - Student Affairs
• UC San Diego Medical Center Diversity Association - UC San Diego Medical Center

UNIVERSITYWIDE RECIPIENTS:

• Irene Barragan, administrative assistant in the Social Work Department
• Patricia Branz, community health program representative at the Moores UCSD Cancer Center
• Paul Bueren, senior chief engineer of the Research Vessel Melville
• Geneva Fitzsimmons, coordinator of the American Indian Outreach Initiatives program
• Jennifer M. Garza, Faculty-led Programs Abroad coordinator
• Dr. Ulrika Birgersdotter-Green, clinical professor at the UC San Diego Medical Center
• Dr. Bill Johnson, counseling psychologist, chair of the Multicultural and Outreach Committee for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Services
• Dr. Tracy Johnson, assistant professor in the Division of Biological Sciences
• Makeba Jones, partnership coordinator at the Center for Research in Educational Equity, Assessment and Teaching Excellence and Rafael Hernandez, director of the Early Academic Outreach Program
• Elsie Collado-Koman, educator and respiratory therapist at the UCSD Medical Center
• Ashley J. Maier, coordinator of the Pediatricians and Communities Collaborating Together program at the UCSD School of Medicine
• Linda E. Navarro, Human Resources specialist in the Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences and Dean’s Office
• Barry J. Niman, director of Accommodation Counseling and Consulting Services in the UCSD Human Resources Department
• Maria Casillas-Sanchez, coordinator of the School Ready Child Ready program in the department of pediatrics at the UCSD School of Medicine
• Dr. Cathy A. Thompson, counseling psychologist in Counseling and Psychological Services
• Geanncarlo Lugo-Villarino, postdoc fellow in the Division of Biological Sciences
• Accommodation Counseling and Consulting Services
• Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation
• Senior Behavioral Health Unit
• Auxiliary & Plant Services Facilities Management department
• UCSD Early Childhood Education Center

The UCSD community, including faculty, staff and students are invited to attend the ceremony.  Please RSVP to Paul Tagliaferri at ptagliaferri@ucsd.edu, (858) 534-3694 by Friday, Jan. 30.