Diversity Catalyst Awards

Nomination Applications Deadline: Monday, March 8th, 2021 | Click HERE to Apply!

The Diversity Catalyst Awards were created by the Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity in the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to honor faculty, staff, students, programs, departments, and/or student organizations at the University of Iowa who have engaged in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives during the previous academic year that have served to promote the development of an inclusive and diverse campus community.

The University of Iowa's commitment to a welcoming and inclusive campus is embedded in policy, practices, values and mission. The Diversity Catalyst Award recognizes the excellence, innovative and distinctive inclusion efforts of campus constituents.

We welcome all UI community members to nominate their peers for this prestigious award, and encourage department administrators to consider nominating those in their unit who have received other diversity awards over the past year.

Diversity Catalyst Awards Information

Award Information

Recipients of the Diversity Catalyst Awards will receive a one-time monetary award and an engraved trophy to commemorate and celebrate their accomplishments.

Who is eligible to receive a Diversity Catalyst Award?

University of Iowa faculty, staff, graduate students, undergraduate students, and postdocs are eligible to be nominated for the Diversity Catalyst Awards.

Requirements

Primary Criteria

The recipients of the Diversity Catalyst Awards are exceptional community members who fit the following criteria:

  • The nominee has developed or implemented an innovative program, policy, or activity to enhance diversity, equity, and/or inclusion within the university; 
  • The nominee's contributions are distinctive and have a positive effect on building respect for diversity, equity, and inclusion within the university community;
  • The nominee has gone above and beyond his/her job responsibilities.
Additional Criteria

A nominee who exemplifies characteristics that are innovative should:

  • be creative and unique;
  • introduce something new to the campus;
  • approach their task with a new perspective that results in new outcomes.

A nominee who exemplifies the characteristics of distinctiveness should:

  • be readily distinguishable in nature and quality from others;
  • exhibit excellence in process and outcome.

A nominee who has enhanced diversity, equity, and inclusion within the university and/or has a positive effect on building respect for diversity, equity, and inclusion within the university community should:

  • identify issues of importance to the creation of a diverse, inclusive university community as envisioned in the UI Human Rights Policy;
  • have the potential to effect or implement long-standing change, rather than a one-time event;
  • enhance the University of Iowa's diversity goals as stated in 2019-2021 Excellence through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan.

How to Apply or Nominate

In order to nominate a person or group for the Diversity Catalyst Awards, the nominator will need to submit the following items:

The deadline for the submission of online nomination forms and letters of support is Monday, March 8th, by 11:59pm CST
2021 Online Nomination Form

The nomination form can be found online by clicking here.

When completing the form, you will need to:

  • provide specific contact information of each person involved in the nomination, such as the name, title, department/organization, email, and phone of the nominee, nominator, etc.
  • name up to 2 individuals who are supporting the nomination via a letter of support
  • clearly demonstrate the nominee's contributions and qualifications in the nomination statement (a portion of the online form) or the letters of support by giving specific examples to describe how the candidate meets the Diversity Catalyst Award criteria. 

Nominators are encouraged to provide a statement of nomination in the text box provided within the online form in addition to the letters of support.

Letters of Support

The specifications for the letters of support are as follows:

  • These letters need to be sent as PDFs or Word documents to diversity-resources@uiowa.edu after the online form is submitted and prior to the stated deadline to be considered.
  • The person completing the online nomination form can be one of the two people to write a letter of support and/or can provide an additional nomination statement via email, if one was not provided in the text box while filling out the online form.
  • No more than three letters total, including the statement of nomination, will be accepted per nomination. In instances where multiple submissions for the same nominee occur by separate nominators, each complete nomination submission will be reviewed and considered separately, and not combined.

 

 

A campus-wide committee of peers will review the nominations and determine this year's recipients.

Timeline

Nomination Applications due: Monday, March 8th, 2021, 11:59p.m. (CST)

Award Recipients and Nominators to be notified: Friday, March 19th, 2021

Virtual Reception Ceremony: Wednesday, April 21st, 2021

Annual Awards Reception

White text on a dark blue background reads "Diversity Catalyst Awards Reception", with blue/green images of a butterfly and laurel leaves behind the text.

Every year, the Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion hosts the Diversity Catalyst Award Reception. This is an opportunity for our whole UI community to come together and celebrate the incredible achievements of the past academic year.

This year's Diversity Catalyst Awards Reception will take place on Wednesday, April 21st. More information about the virtual event will be released later on in the semester.

We are excited to celebrate not only the recipients of the Diversity Catalyst Awards, but also the recipients of the Diversity Catalyst Seed Grant, the Alliant Energy and Erroll B. Davis Jr. Achievement Award, and the B.U.I.L.D. Certificate. You can find more information about the awards, grants, and certificates in the links below.

    Reception Information

    This event has historically been held in-person, but has since transitioned to be in a virtual format for the time being.

    During this event, we invite keynote speakers to give an address about current topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion that are salient to the University of Iowa. 

    Following words of welcome and keynote addresses, we recognize and celebrate those who have been presented with an award, scholarship, or honor during this academic year. Specifically, we name and celebrate this year's recipients of:

    • Diversity Catalyst Awards (Individual and Group)
    • Alliant Energy & Erroll B. Davis, Jr., Achievement Award
    • Diversity Catalyst Seed Grant
    • B.U.I.L.D. Certificates

    Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Diversity Resources at diversity-resources@uiowa.edu. 

    Please let us know if there are any accommodations that would increase the accessibility and enjoyment of the virtual Diversity Catalyst Awards. 

    Alliant Energy and Erroll B. Davis, Jr. Achievement Award

    Diversity Catalyst Seed Grant

    B.U.I.L.D. Certificate Program

    Point of Contact

    Steven Edwards

    Assistant Director, Diversity Resources
    Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | University of Iowa

    Ph: 319-383-2388 | Email: steven-edwards@uiowa.edu

    Previous Recipients

    Over the past 20 years, there have been many people, programs, and organizations honored by the various iterations of the Diversity Catalyst Awards. There are a couple of categories of awards, some of which have had slight shifts in their name. We've included a brief description of the major differences to help contextualize the past recipient's accomplishments. Diversity Catalyst Awards can be given to faculty, staff, students, departments, groups, and/or student organizations, and the title of the award will reflect the recipients' title or role at the time of receiving the award. Generally, those who receive a Diversity Catalyst Award do not have positions where diversity, equity, and inclusion work explicitly makes up most of their job description. In the cases of truly exceptional performance within the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion, a Diversity Practitioner Award is bestowed upon the recipient.

    If you would like to learn more about the past recipients of the Alliant Energy and Erroll B. Davis Jr. Achievement Award, please click here. If you would like to learn more about the past grants from the Diversity Seed Grant, please click here. If you have any questions, please email us at diversity-resources@uiowa.edu.

    Past Awardees

    View the landing page for the 2020 Catalyst Awards!
    Individual Faculty/Staff Awards​

    Donna Hammond, Carver College of Medicine

    Antentor Hinton Jr., Carver College of Medicine

    Department/Group Awards

    Iowa Youth Writing Project, Magid Center for Undergraduate Writing

    Student Organization Awards​

    Our Collective Brain, Psychological and Brain Sciences

    Individual Diversity Practitioner Awards

    Talinda Pettigrew, Talent Acquisition, University Human Resources

    Group Diversity Practitioner Awards

    Multicultural and International Student Support and Engagement (MISSE) Team, Division of Student Life

    Individual Faculty/Staff Awards​

    Aniruddha Dutta, Gender, Women's & Sexuality Studies and Asian & Slavic Languages and Literatures

    Diane Finnerty, Office of the Executive Vice President and ProvostJodi Graff, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Carver College of Medicine

    Michelle McQuistan, Preventative and Community Dentistry

    Individual Student Awards​

    Taha Gesalla, Minority Association of Pre-medical Students (MAPS)

    Department/Group Awards

    Tippie Gateway and BizEdge, Henry B. Tippie College of Business

     

     

    Individual Faculty/Staff Awards​

    Nkanyezi Ferguson, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Dermatology, Carver College of Medicine
    Barbara Baquero, PhD, MPH, assistant professor in Community and Behavioral Health, and deputy director of the UI Prevention Research Center, College of Public Health
    Tracy R. Peterson, director of Diversity and K-12 Outreach the College of Engineering

    Individual Student Awards​

    Lilián M. Sánchez Garcia, fourth-year undergraduate student and student body vice president, University of Iowa Student Government

    Department/Group Awards

    Hawkeye Accessibility Ambassador Program

     

     

    Individual Faculty/Staff Awards​

    Gabby Blanchard, Police Officer, UI Public Safety
    Amy Lee, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics and Assistant Dean for Research, Carver College of Medicine
    Denise Martinez, M.D., Assistant Dean for Cultural Affairs and Diversity Initiatives, Carver College of Medicine
    Kirk Corey, Ph.D. and Todd M. Weissenberger, Information Technology Services

    Individual Student Awards​

    Dawson Davenport, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

    Individual Faculty/Staff Awards

    Lan Samantha Chang, M.F.A., Director, Iowa Writer’s Workshop
    Jason Daniel-Ulloa, MPH Ph.D., Assistant Research Scientist, Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health
    Michael Hill, Ph.D., Associate Professor, English and African American Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
    Tina Tootle, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Carver College of Medicine

    Individual Student Awards​

    Cindy Ann Kilgo, Ph.D., Higher Education and Student Affairs, College of Education

    Distinguished Catalyst Award Recognition

    Valerie S. Garr, Diversity and Supplemental Instruction Coordinator, College of Nursing

    Individual Faculty/Staff Awards​

    Jennifer Blair, Assistant Director for Global Community Engagement, Tippie College of Business
    Robin Clark-Bennett, Labor Educator, Labor Center
    Malik S. Henfield, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Program Coordinator, School Counseling and Counselor Education and Supervision, College of Education
    Jefri L. Palermo, Development Specialist, School of Social Work

    Individual Student Awards​

    Tawanda Carson Owens, Ph.D., Afro American Cultural Center Manager

    Individual Faculty/Staff Awards​

    Motier F. Haskins, MSW, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
    David M. Lubaroff, Ph.D., Associate Director, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center and Professor, Departments of Urology and Microbiology

    Individual Student Awards​

    Michael Considine, Senior Airman, 185th Air National Guard in Sioux City, IA and President, University of Iowa Veterans’ Association
    Anthony Ferguson, Jr., Assistant District Director, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and President and Founder- Young, Black, and Educated

    Department/Group Awards

    Division of Student Life Multicultural Work Group

    Individual Faculty/Staff Awards​

    Brad M. Brunick, Psy.D., Staff Psychologist, University Counseling Service
    Jake Christensen, B.A., Senior Admission Counselor, Office of Admissions
    Katie Imborek, M.D., and Nicole L. Nisly, M.D., co-Directors, Iowa River Landing LGBTQ Clinic, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
    Tonya Peeples, Ph.D., Professor, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering/Director, Ethnic Inclusion Effort for Iowa Engineering, University of Iowa College of Engineering

    Individual Student Awards​

    Sauvik Goswami, University of Iowa Student Government

    Individual Faculty/Staff Awards​

    Michael Anderson, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics/Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, College of Medicine
    Daniel F. Eberl, Ph.D., Professor, Biology and Otolaryngology, and Director of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics, College of Medicine
    Patrick A. Dolan, Jr., Ph.D., Lecturer, Rhetoric Department

    Individual Student Awards​

    Stef shuster, M.A., Sociology
    Kyla R. Djannie, College of Law and Darcelle A. Skeete, College of Law

    Distinguished Catalyst Award Recognition

    Leonard Sandler, J.D., Clinical Professor of Law, College of Law

    Individual Faculty/Staff Awards​

    Kathryn Chaloner, Professor, Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health

    Individual Faculty/Staff Awards​

    Thomas Weingeist, M.D., Ph.D., Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

    Individual Student Awards​

    Theodore J. Patton, College of Law

    Department/Group Awards

    REACH: Realizing Educational and Career Hopes

    Student Organization Awards​

    Engineers Without Borders

    Individual Diversity Practitioner Awards

    Helen Park Jameson, Office of International Students and Scholars

    We are currently updating our records and confirming information. Thank you for your patience!

    Individual Faculty/Staff Awards​

    John Achrazoglou, Director, Educational Technology Center, College of Education

    Individual Student Awards​

    Jimmy Reyes, College of Nursing

    Department/Group Awards

    Iowa Edge, Program Initiative Award
    Women's Resource and Action Center (WRAC)

    Individual Faculty/Staff Awards​

    Rachel Garza Carreon, Outreach, Recruitment & Research Librarian, University Libraries

    Kathleen Kemp, Program Administrator & Admissions Coordinator, School of Social Work

    Individual Student Awards​

    Katie Imborek, Carver College of Medicine Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual orgainization MEDIQS

    Department/Group Awards

    Women in Science & Engineering (WISE) Graduate/Postdoctoral Workshop Series

    Distinguished Catalyst Award Recognition

    Willie 'Fred' Mims, Associate Director of Athletics for Student Services and Compliance, Department of Intercollegiate Athletics

    Individual Faculty/Staff Awards​

    Judie Hermsen, Senior Assistant Director, University Human Resources
    Vanessa Shelton, Director, IHSPA/Summer Journalism Workshops, School of Journalism and Mass Communications

    Individual Student Awards​

    Amina Mahmood, Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundation

    Student Organization Awards​

    Partners for Success, Carver College of Medicine Student National Medical Association (SNMA) Mentoring Program

    Individual Faculty/Staff Awards​

    Carolyn Colvin, Associate Dean, College of Education
    Tess Judge-Ellis, Clinical Assistant Professor, College of Nursing

    Department/Group Awards

    Power Plant Diversity Task Force

    Student Organization Awards​

    UI Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allied Union (GLBTAU)

    Individual Faculty/Staff Awards​

    Victor Rodgers, Professor, College of Engineering

    Individual Student Awards​

    Amber Keller, Carver College of Medicine

    Department/Group Awards

    Men in Nursing Task Force, College of Nursing

    Student Organization Awards​

    Indian Cultural Association

    Individual Faculty/Staff Awards​

    Diana Davies, Director, International Programs
    Adrienne Drapkin, Director, Medical Museum

    Department/Group Awards

    Philip G. Hubbard Law School Preparation Program

    Individual Faculty/Staff Awards​

    Barbara Muller, Associate Professor, Internal Medicine, Carver College of Medicine
    Virginia Woodard, Office of Student Affairs and Curriculum, Carver College of Medicine

    Department/Group Awards

    Iowa Biosciences Advantage Program
    School of Social Work

    Individual Faculty/Staff Awards​

    Akwasi Agyeman Boateng, Supervisor, Food and Nutrition Services, UI Hospitals and Clinics
    Eugene Madison, Professor, Department of Mathematics

    Department/Group Awards

    Department of Theatre Arts

    Individual Faculty/Staff Awards​

    Raul Curto, Executive Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
    Mickey Eliason, Associate Professor, College of Nursing

    Department/Group Awards

    Graduate College

    Individual Faculty/Staff Award

    Billie Townsend, Liberal Arts and Sciences Administration

    Department/Group Awards

    Department of Mathematics

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