The 11th annual U Diversity Award winners were announced last week. Persons recognized for these awards were based on nominations received by the Diversity Awards Committee.The four recipients of the award were chosen for their work in actively demonstrating a commitment to diversity at the U.
Eugene Edwards
A professor of social work and director of the American Indian studies program at the U, Edwards has been dedicated to assisting American Indians.In 1971, he established the American Indian social work program at the U.For more than 30 years, he has assisted American Indians and Alaskan Natives in earning their master’s and doctoral degrees.
Steve Nygaard
As director of Housing and Residential Education at the U, Nygaard has been dedicated to promoting diversity on campus.Since his arrival at the U, Nygaard has created the Chartwells Emerging Leaders Scholarship and arranged for a block of the AIDS Memorial Quilt to be displayed in the Heritage Center dining room.Nygaard has also initiated a diversity-training program focused on unlearning racism for new resident advisers.
David Pershing
The senior vice president of Academic Affairs, Pershing has worked to increase the diversity budget for programs at the U.Pershing created a program at the U that provides funding for spouses and partners of job candidates on campus to address the growing need for employment opportunities.He is a mentor for junior members of the faculty and a supporter of the Office of the Senior Vice President for Diversity, the Utah Opportunity Scholarship and other diversity programs across campus.
Wilfred Samuels
Wilfred Samuels, an associate professor in the English department and ethnic studies program, has been planning Black Awareness Month activities at the U since 1992.As director of African-American studies and serving as interim coordinator of the ethnic studies program, Samuels has been responsible for bringing many diverse programs to campus.Samuels has also sponsored numerous trips for students to places such as New York City to explore first hand the birthplace of the Harlem Renaissance.