色色啦

KENNESAW, Ga. | Apr 21, 2017

Honorees recognized for service at fifth annual ceremony

Six members of Kennesaw State鈥檚 faculty and staff and an alumnus were awarded 2017 Presidential Diversity Awards recognizing their service and contributions toward creating a more inclusive and welcoming campus environment.

The fifth annual awards, which correspond to six presidential commissions operating at Kennesaw State, were presented by the University鈥檚 Office of Diversity and Inclusion during a ceremony yesterday.

Opening the ceremony, Kennesaw State President Sam Olens affirmed the University鈥檚 commitment to diversity and inclusion, adding that it is important to 鈥渃onstantly learn from other people.鈥� He also praised the recipients, describing them as individuals who have performed 鈥渆xtraordinary deeds with extraordinary results.鈥�

Erik Malewski, the University鈥檚 chief diversity officer, emphasized the level of service and commitment recipients perform as 鈥渃ultural advocates.鈥�

鈥淭hey are inspired and compelled to work for a better world,鈥� Malewski said. 鈥淭hey serve as a reminder of the kindness and everyday goodness we all should strive to achieve.鈥�

_{^{Pictured from left, Julie Newell; Glenda Espana; Christine Rubel; Sarah Holliday; Ibrahim ElSawy; Debarati Sen; and Cassandra Race}}

Following are this year鈥檚 Presidential Diversity Award recipients (Click to learn more about their service and contributions):

• Outstanding Contribution Award

, part-time assistant director of technical communications

(Presidential Commission on Gender and Work Life Issues)                                                                            

• Teresa M. Joyce Award

, interim faculty director of general education and associate professor of mathematics

(Presidential Commission on GLBTIQ Initiatives)

• R.C. Paul Excellence in Sustainability Award

, special assistant to the provost and professor of interdisciplinary studies, and

, KSU Alum (2016)

(Presidential Commission on Sustainability)

• Mattox Award for Excellence in Service and Leadership

, academic advisor, Office of the Registrar

(Presidential Commission of Veterans Affairs)

• R.O.H. Social Justice Award

, assistant professor of conflict management an anthropology

(Presidential Commission on Racial and Ethnic Dialogue)

• Carol J. Pope Award

, executive director, Academy of Inclusive Learning and Social Growth and clinical associate professor of exercise science and sport management

(Presidential Commission on Disability Strategies and Resources)

The awards ceremony concluded with remarks from guest speaker Beverly Guy-Sheftall, the Anna Julia Cooper Professor of Women鈥檚 Studies and founding director of the Women鈥檚 Research and Resource Center at Spelman College. She urged Kennesaw State to persist in its goals to achieve a diverse and welcoming climate.

Across the spectrum, Guy-Sheftall said, 鈥淒iversity agendas are under attack 鈥� We cannot return to the past.鈥�   

--Sabbaye McGriff

Photos by David Caselli

Video production by Nathalia Jaramillo, Jennifer Leifheit-Little, Ricky Bohan and the KSU video production team

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 色色啦. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.