University of Oregon faculty and staff whose contributions to the campus and broader community exemplify qualities espoused by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will be honored on Thursday, Jan. 23, at an MLK Award luncheon hosted by the Office of Equity and Inclusion.
The luncheon is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the EMU Ballroom. It is open to all and a plated lunch will be served. To ensure that enough meals are ordered and available, please RSVP here with meal preferences by Friday, Jan. 17.
The MLK awards celebrate those who go beyond their prescribed job duties to help others and offer service.
“This year’s winners have shown not only support and encouragement for equity and inclusion at the University of Oregon, but also a deep commitment to ensuring our students achieve their highest potential,” said Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Yvette Alex-Assensoh.
All of the MLK award winners were nominated by the peers who see in them, on a day-to-day basis, qualities that the late civil rights leader upheld and supported.
“To know the spirit of Dr. King is alive and well on this campus fills me with hope,” said Alex-Assensoh. “Our work to make equity and inclusion commonplace on campus is moving forward with the help of these fine colleagues.”
The UO Gospel Choir will kick off the event, which will be followed by lunch, then welcoming remarks by Alex-Assensoh, who will also introduce the president and other attending UO leaders.
The MLK Award winners represent faculty and staff from a wide variety of departments. They will be given time to offer remarks and share what the award means to them. Rehearsals for Life, a theatrical troupe that focuses on issues of inclusion and equity, will perform a brief skit, followed by the announcement of the Student Essay and Video winners, who will present their works.
This year’s MLK award program will include a new addition – Equity and Inclusion Innovation Awards, which will be presented to recognize instances in which policies, procedures and structures are furthering equity and inclusion efforts across campus.
2014 MLK Award Winners
Paula Braswell, director of admissions for the Clark Honors College
Daniel Pascoe Aguilar, director of the Career Center
Jane Irungu, director of graduate and post-graduate success, Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence
Mariko Lin, senior staff therapist and outreach coordinator, University Counseling and Testing Center
Sarah Smith-Benanti, special events coordinator, Division of Student Affairs
2014 Equity and Inclusion Innovation Awards
Native American Tribes of Oregon Flagpole Project
Pathway Oregon
Equity and Inclusion component of the CBA
Student Essay Winners
TBA
- from the UO Office of the Vice President of Equity and Inclusion