Service, Outreach Efforts Recognized at Diversity Awards
Thrity Individuals, Departments, Units Recognized
Ioana Patringenaru | February 17, 2009
Chancellor Marye Anne Fox congratulated the recipients of this year's Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action and Diversity Awards.
(Photo / Kevin A. Walsh)
They mentored minority students. They helped recruit under-represented students and boost campus spirit. They made it easier for disabled members of the UC San Diego community to have access to campus.
In all, 30 individuals, departments and units were recognized for their efforts to increase diversity on the UCSD campus Tuesday, during the 14th annual Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action and Diversity Awards. The awards recognize 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 is a difficult time for the university, but it’s important that diversity remain a high priority, Fox said. She pointed out that the campus would hold its first-ever women’s conference March 11.
“We have made great strides in increasing and celebrating diversity,” Fox told the audience at the awards ceremony at the Price Center Ballroom.
Mentoring students
Dr. Sandra Daley, the campus' chief diversity officer, Tracy Johnson and Fox.
Award recipients recognized Tuesday came from a wide variety of backgrounds and their efforts to boost diversity took many shapes. Tracy Johnson is the first female African-American to be hired into a tenure-track position in the Division of Biological Sciences. She took part in a task force that aimed to increase the percentage of minority students who apply to UCSD. She also is working closely with Gabriele Wienhausen, the associate dean of education, to recruit top minority students to undergraduate programs and has taken day trips to schools in San Diego and Los Angeles, where she told students about all the opportunities available to them at UCSD. As a result, applications of minority students have increased, officials said.
In addition, she advises several students from the Preuss School and mentors minority undergraduates in her laboratory. Johnson also is working to boost the number of minority students who apply to graduate school. Each summer she organizes a reception for undergraduates involved in summer research programs, such the Summer Training Academy for Research in the Sciences and the UC Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees. She was awarded the prestigious Faculty Career Development Program grant from the National Science Foundation Office for Academic Diversity and Equal Opportunity.
“It feels great,” Johnson said when asked what it felt like to be recognized. “It means that is in an important part of UCSD’s mission.” She said she believes the quality of the scientific endeavor improves as a more diverse population of researchers are involved and asking different questions.
Reaching out and boosting campus spirit
Daley, Bill Johnson and Fox.
Meanwhile, awards recipients such as Bill Johnson, focus on boosting campus spirit and diversity. During his first year on campus, Johnson, a psychologist for Counseling and Psychological Services, received the Black Student Union Outstanding Staff Award for his work with black students. Among his many efforts, he is working with the Black Student Union and the Center for Student Involvement to establish historically black Greek fraternity and sorority chapters at UC San Diego, to bring more diversity to the Greek community on campus.
As an executive member of UJIMA, Johnson also coordinates the FORCE program, which helps underrepresented and first-generation college students adjust to campus. The program also helps students succeed by implementing activities and outreach workshops. Johnson revived the Campus Black Forum, which is an informal gathering that allows students, staff and faculty an opportunity to connect and empower each other.
“I felt honored and humbled to be among the recipients being recognized,” Johnson wrote in an e-mail. “It was wonderful to hear that so many people are dedicated to diversity and determined to continue the work of building an inclusive community.”
Embracing diversity allows the university to have an appreciation and acceptance for the multicultural society, in which we live and the unique voices and cultures, which make up our world, Johnson said. A very diverse workplace will find more creative solutions to problems, he added. Also, the more diverse your circle of friends, the richer your perspectives. So it is important to continuously promote diversity, for example through outreach programs designed to address the needs of groups that have historically been systemically marginalized, Johnson also said.
Providing access
Daley, Barry Niman and Fox.
Barry Niman, director of Accommodation Counseling and Consulting Services, a division of the UC San Diego Human Resources department, and the co-chair of Community Advocates for Disability Rights and Education, focuses on students, staff and faculty with disabilities. He developed the UC San Diego Health and Wellness Lecture series and the Celebration of Abilities Week annual event. When he learns of a site on campus where access is difficult or unavailable, he won’t quit until the issue is resolved, officials said.
Niman also is involved with a mentoring program for disabled secondary and high school students, which pairs young people with disabilities with successful adults with similar challenges. Due in large part to Niman’s efforts, UC San Diego is moving toward a much more welcoming and accepting environment for people with disabilities, officials said. His efforts have brought about much more than a wheelchair ramp here or there; he is helping to change the culture of the campus to be more inclusive and diverse, they said.
Chancellor Fox with children from the Early Childhood Education Center, which received a campuswide diversity award Thursday. Behind Fox are Chief Diversity Officer Daley and ECEC Director Kathryn Owen.
Niman said he has been working on behalf of the disabled since 1977. “I just wanted people at UCSD to have a fair chance to succeed,” he said. The campus is making strides, but here is still a lot of work to do, he added. “People who work with me have been very helpful,” Niman said.
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