Ten Receive Mizzou Inclusive Excellence Award from Chancellor's Diversity Initiative

May 20, 2008

Story Contact:  Christian Basi, (573) 882-4430, BasiC@missouri.edu

  COLUMBIA, Mo. – A group of 10 University of Missouri faculty, staff and students were honored recently with the 2008 Mizzou Inclusive Excellence Award, recognizing their contributions to campus diversity efforts. The award is given through the Chancellor’s Diversity Initiative to individuals at MU who have made exemplary contributions to any area of diversity, including gender issues, racial-ethnic background, language, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, abilities and disabilities, national and geographical origin, economic strata, and political views.

            This year’s recipients were Kevin Babbitt, a doctoral candidate in the theatre department; Heather Carver, associate professor of theatre; John David, associate professor of biological sciences; Ranadhir Mitra, associate professor of anatomy and pathological sciences; Lance Pierce, junior business major; Anand Prahlad, professor of English; Carol A. Snively, assistant professor of social work; the MU Extension Catalyst Team; Jeffrey R. Williams, director of access and urban outreach in enrollment management; and Gary Wunder, programmer analyst expert of information technology business applications.

           “Diversity makes us better,” said Roger L. Worthington, MU assistant deputy chancellor and chief diversity officer. “That is the basic assumption behind the term ‘inclusive excellence.’ In order to be an outstanding world-class institution, it is essential that we have a campus that is inclusive of the diversity that exists in our society. The Mizzou Inclusive Excellence Award winners are people who have made our institution better by working to make it more inclusive and respectful of diversity.”

Some of the recipients’ achievements include increasing the diversity of students and faculty; organizing cultural events on the MU campus; founding an organization that educates students, staff and faculty about the importance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues; mentoring minority students in the English department; raising awareness about the Holocaust; and serving people with disabilities.

            Winners were honored at the 2008 Mizzou Diversity Summit.

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