Inaugural Diversity Excellence
Awards recipients announced

April 22, 2005--The Office of Diversity Initiatives at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro held the Inaugural Diversity Excellence Awards Luncheon Thursday, April 14, naming two professors and the Student Government Association (SGA) with top honors for their achievements in diversity.

Dr. Robyn Hannigan, associate professor of geochemistry, and Dr. Veda McClain, department chair of teacher education, received the Campus Excellence Award for their efforts.

“Dr. McClain is inclusive in her approaches and interactions with others. She firmly believes in diversity in many forms and takes every opportunity to enhance the acceptance of others, regardless of their background,” said Dr. Glen Jones, assistant to the president for Diversity Initiatives, as he read comments from her nominations.
“She works very hard in ensure that students in her programs are representative of the diversity of the state, and that her programs are successful for all students. Because of Dr. McClain’s strong leadership skills as department chair, everyone has made a more concerted effort to give minority applicants – faculty, graduate students and work-study students -- equitable consideration,” he further said.

“Dr. Hannigan is an outstanding researcher and teacher. As a native American and a woman in the sciences, her special mission has been to help students from underrepresented groups succeed in the classroom, college and life…When you walk into Robyn’s water-rock-life laboratory on campus, you walk into a cornucopia of diversity among the many undergraduates, graduate students, and post doctoral researchers,” said Dr. Jones in reading from Dr. Hannigan’s nominations.

The SGA received the Student Excellence Award for their outreach efforts to include more students of color in their activities and programs. “The Minority Roundtable Discussion Series has been very well received, and they have served as advocates for individual students and student groups,” said Dr. Jones.

Accepting the Student Excellence Award for the SGA was outgoing president Jake Hampton and vice president Courtney Rowe.

In addition, several members of the ASU community were named “Friends of Diversity.” They include: Dr. John Beineke, Dr. Charles Carr, Dr. Kathryn Jones, Dr. Ruth Owens, Dr. J.W. Mason, Dr. Rick McDaniel, Dr. Herman Strickland, and Dr. Lonnie Williams.
At the conclusion of the luncheon, Dr. Jones thanked everyone for their efforts. And, he added, “We’re moving in the right direction, but we recognize that much work remains to be done as we seek to fulfill our vision that … ASU will be known for its commitment to diversity as evidenced by its inclusive work and learning environments, its acceptance of differences as positive and enriching and its ability to attract, retain and advance diverse faculty, staff and student body. ASU will have an environment where anyone, no matter who they are, will see a consistent reflection of themselves on the campus. They will feel comfortable and welcomed, as if they belong at ASU.”
 

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