Click here to apply. Application due Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at 11:59 pm.

 

CEW+ annually seeks proposal submissions for this award ($1,000 for individuals; $2,000 for groups) by October 23, 2024, from faculty, staff, postdocs, research fellows, and students whose sustained efforts have resulted in greater equity in regard to gender, race, class, age, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation at Michigan or beyond. Honorees will be those who, like Carol, have proven that social change is possible through persistent hard work and who demonstrate that one person can make a lasting difference in their communities.

CRITERIA FOR THE AWARD

• Sustained effort and demonstrated outcomes in achieving greater equity in this community and/or beyond
• Creativity in devising strategic approaches to advocacy and problem-solving
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion
• Effective coalition building

To receive this award, recipients must meet the following conditions:

• Be a student (student groups must be an SSO or attached to a U-M unit), postdoc, research fellow, staff, or faculty (emeritus, current tenure-track, non-tenure-track, or tenured faculty) at UM-Ann Arbor, Dearborn, or Flint during the 2023-24 academic year.
• Deliver a lightning talk (5-7 min) describing your work and participate in answering questions from the audience with other awardees in person during the award ceremony on February 13, 2025, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Questions regarding the application process may be directed to [email protected] or (734) 764-6292.

2024 Award Recipients

Braids, Twists, and Surgical Knots (BTSK)

Using the concept of “community-centered intervention” The Braids, Twists, and Surgical Knots (BTSK) initiative encourages young Black girls to consider a career in surgery by connecting it to the culturally significant topic of Black hair. By partnering with a professional salon and connecting surgery to ethnically relevant hairstyling, the goal is to meet Black girls where they are and help them see the skills they may already possess as valuable and easily transferable to the surgical field. According to the BTSK team, “The historical narrative of Black hair has been plagued by imposter syndrome and feelings of inadequacy and shame. This has been especially true in academic and professional environments, where one is expected to conform to Eurocentric styling standards in order to succeed in these spaces of traditional hierarchy. Because Black hair is integral to cultural identity, it is apparent how this messaging can be detrimental to self-worth and future aspirations. BTSK, in its efforts to connect surgery with Black hair, attempts to rewrite the narrative into one that equips and empowers. We work to encourage Black adolescents to pursue and succeed in historically underrepresented medical careers not despite their hair, but because of it”. As a result of their creativity in devising strategic approaches to advocacy and problem-solving and demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion BTSK is awarded the 2024 Carol Hollenshead Inspire Award.

Click here to view the recording

Yannet Daniel is a third-year medical student and the founder of BTSK. As the daughter of Eritrean immigrants, Yannet has always pursued medicine through the lens of addressing disparities and increasing diversity within the field. She obtained a B.S. from Duke University where she studied Biology and Global Health. With a focus on community-based participatory research, she has explored contraceptive use in rural Uganda, equity in residency application advising, and redesigning ACOG Prenatal Care guidelines. She is passionate about establishing sustainable community partnerships to increase healthcare accessibility for marginalized populations. As an aspiring physician advocate, she plans to pursue an MD/MPP dual degree to explore how equitable policy can bridge culture, community, and health. During her free time, she enjoys playing Pickleball and singing karaoke with friends.

Eliyas Asfaw (he/him) is a medical student at the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Health, also from U-M. During his undergraduate studies, he conducted research on modeling risk factors of viral infections.  He has strong interest in quantifiably understanding the impact of key determinants of health. Prior to returning to U-M for his medical education, he worked as a management consultant in the banking and manufacturing sector.

Donovan Inniss is a 4th-year medical student at the University of Michigan Medical School (UMMS). Donovan was born and raised in Nassau, The Bahamas, and then went on to complete his undergraduate degree in Minnesota. Following this, Donovan taught English in Tokyo, Japan for a year and then matriculated into medical school. Intercalating during his time at UMMS, Donovan completed an MPhil in Bioscience Enterprise at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom prior to his final year of medical school. Outside of academics at UMMS and beyond, Donovan has worked on projects to lessen health disparities and has led workgroups and protests to forward social justice initiatives. Donovan is actively involved in organizations such as the Black Medical Association, the Student Council, and has served as the Co-Chair for the Student Diversity Council. An aspiring emergency medicine physician, author, and entrepreneur, Donovan is passionate about equitable healthcare, broadened access to resources, and improved cross-cultural communication and understanding. Outside of medicine, he enjoys tennis, swimming, anime, and poetry.

Lanna Lewis is a biomolecular science student on the pre-medical track. She aspires to promote health equity and fight unconscious biases that exist within healthcare. In her free time, you might find her knitting, spending free time with her friends, or baking.

Roberta Elohor Ukavwe, MD is an incoming Dermatology Resident in the Department of Dermatology. Born in Nigeria and raised in Detroit, she spent her teen years working alongside her mother as a hairstylist in their home beauty salon. She received her undergraduate degree at Wayne State University, graduating with Nursing Honors. She then spent four years as a Pediatric Critical Care Nurse before obtaining her medical degree from the University of Michigan with a distinction in Medical Education.  She is a member of the esteemed Gold Humanism Society. Her interests include improving community-based interventions to enhance access to specialized dermatology care, utilizing medical education to enhance patient interaction with complex health systems, and developing initiatives to address “leaky” pipelines throughout academic training. An enthusiastic lifelong learner, Dr. Ukavwe is a strong advocate for the mentor-mentee paradigm, viewing it as a catalyst for continuous personal and professional growth.

Dr. Gifty Kwakye, MD, MPH, is the Arthur W. Fleming, M.D. Research Professor and a Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery in the Division of Colorectal Surgery. She graduated from Yale University with a BSc degree in both Biology and Psychology. She received her medical degree from Yale University in 2010 and holds a Master’s in Public Health from Johns Hopkins. She completed her general surgery residency at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School in 2017 and colorectal surgery fellowship at the University of Minnesota in 2018. Dr Kwakye joined the faculty at the University of Michigan in 2018. As a resident she received multiple awards including the Robert T. Osteen and the Partners Health System Medical Education awards for excellence in teaching. Her passion for global health was also recognized with a Global Health Scholarship award from Johns Hopkins during her public health training.

Disabilities, Research, Education and Advocacy Movement (DREAM)

Disabilities, Research, Education and Advocacy Movement (DREAM) was founded in 2019 to empower persons with disabilities (PWD) and their allies in the under-resourced and predominantly Arab-American population of Dearborn, MI. A hallmark of DREAM’s efforts focuses on amplifying the voices of those with disabilities in our community through our dedicated podcast platform, Discovering Disabilities in Dearborn. The podcast offers an inclusive space where guests with disabilities are invited to share their personal narratives and lived experiences. Through these conversations, DREAM  aims to educate, foster understanding, and nurture unity within the Arab-American community about varying disabilities. DREAM’s endeavors embody not just advocacy but a creative reimagining of accessibility landscapes, constantly challenging the status quo and envisioning a more inclusive society. As a result of their sustained effort and demonstrated outcomes in achieving greater equity in their community through effective coalition building they are awarded the 2024 Carol Hollenshead Inspire Award.

Fatima Bouhamdan
Fatima currently works as a software engineer at Meta. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. She has a longstanding passion for giving back to her community, evidenced by her involvement in several novel initiatives across the greater Detroit area. Her experiences culminated in the co-founding of DREAM. She finds it rewarding to use her time in service of others and collaborate with similarly passionate individuals, as it not only helps those in need but also provides a sense of community to rely on.

Jawad Bouhamdan
Jawad is a first-year resident physician at Michigan Medicine. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in biochemistry and completed medical school at Wayne State University. From a young age, he has been actively involved in several influential community efforts geared toward empowering and educating youth and marginalized populations. Recognizing a gap in disability advocacy within his community, Jawad utilized his foundational experiences to co-create DREAM. Being an active member of DREAM has been pivotal; it has allowed him to expand his impact, understanding of, and involvement with the population of disabled youth in his community while doubling as a springboard to further connect with his patients with disabilities. In his free time, Jawad is an ardent astrophotographer and recreational soccer player. 

Ali Darwiche
Ali is a first-year medical student at the University of Michigan with a deep-rooted passion for disability advocacy. This journey began in his undergraduate years when he noticed a lack of support for people with disabilities in his community. In addition to co-founding DREAM, he is a host on the group’s podcast “Discovering Disabilities in Dearborn,” which aims to shed light on often-overlooked issues within the disability sphere. Outside of academics, Ali is an avid chess player and gamer.

Mustapha Jaber
Mustapha is a second-year medical student at the University of Michigan Medical School. His passion for disability advocacy stems from his commitment to serving marginalized communities. Combining his interest in research with community enrichment, DREAM is an ideal platform for this synergy. Co-founding DREAM has been a rewarding experience, allowing him to build stronger relationships across his community and beyond. Working to foster inclusivity and opportunities for all is a cornerstone of his career goals.

Rachad Elghoul
Rachad is a first-year medical student at Michigan State University who received his undergraduate degree in Neuroscience from the University of Michigan. He had the privilege of working with individuals with disabilities while growing up, teaching him the importance of advocating for marginalized populations. He is now honored to have an even greater impact on these populations through DREAM. Additionally, he works as a tutor for high school students and is carrying out his mission to pay it forward. Through his work in the community, Rachad hopes to serve the underprivileged and bring greater awareness to disabilities in the field of medicine.

Mohamad Awada
Mohamad is a second-year medical student at the University of Michigan Medical School. He received his undergraduate degree in Biomolecular Science. After college, he worked as a behavioral therapist with children with autism and served with City Year Detroit to support students from under-resourced schools. Throughout these experiences, Mohamad has been one of the founding members of DREAM, helping it to reach its current impact. As a medical student and future physician, he hopes to incorporate his prior experiences to provide holistic and compassionate care to his patients.

Rawan Darouiche, LLMSW
Rawan is a licensed School Social Worker who graduated from the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Her undergraduate degree is in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Rawan currently works as a Special Education Social Worker at Northville Public Schools. She has experience at the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) as a school-based clinical intern, where she worked with children and adolescents of varying ages, abilities, and backgrounds. At DREAM, Rawan functions as the Social Media Coordinator, creating educational posts and maintaining the group’s Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok pages. 

Ahmad Taleb
Ahmad is an electrical engineer at DTE Energy. He received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan. Passionate about community service, Ahmad has been an active member of organizations focused on empowering youth, dedicating his time to making a positive impact. When not working or volunteering, Ahmad unwinds with a good book, expanding his knowledge and fostering personal growth.

2022 Award Recipients

COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD FOR LUPUS CARE AND RESEARCH

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kourtney Pony, MD/MBA Candidate, University of Michigan; Rachel Bergmans, MPH, PhD, Research Investigator, University of Michigan Department of Anesthesiology, Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center (CPFRC)

Lightning Talk: Advancing Racial Equity and Inclusion in Lupus Care and Research

This lightning talk will contextualize racial inequities in lupus care and research, as well as the underlying factors for these inequities. In doing so, the presenters will discuss the group’s development as an educational resource for lupus self-management in partnership with representatives from Black communities. The talk will also share examples of using community-engaged research approaches as a tool to address health inequities. Lastly, the presenters will comment on their parallel work, which includes community outreach activities and qualitative interviews, and share how this work has helped to (a) better understand the experience of Black patients who have lupus, and (b) identify opportunities to improve equity in lupus care and research.

ORBIT LABS: ONLINE RESOURCES FOR BUILDING INTERCULTURAL TEAMS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kelly Murdoch-Kitt, Associate Professor, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design; Dr. Denielle Emans, Assistant Professor of Design, Roger Williams University; Nicole Fairchild Azevedo, Master of Integrative Design, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design

Lightning Talk: Visual Thinking Methods and Intercultural Collaboration for Social Change

For the past 12 years, Associate Professor Kelly Murdoch-Kitt’s research has demonstrated her commitment to diversity and inclusion by studying how to use visual thinking as a powerful tool for building bridges across various types of cultural differences—e.g. disciplinary, experiential, and geographic. Her 2020 book, Intercultural Collaboration by Design: Drawing from Differences, Distances, and Disciplines through Visual Thinking, co-authored with Dr. Denielle Emans (Roger Williams University), provides a framework and more than 30 structured activities that introduce visual thinking as a route to promote equity and inclusion. Murdoch-Kitt will discuss how her innovative Global Studio virtual exchange course utilized her innovative series of visual thinking activities to create inclusive, student-centered cultural learning experiences. These activities, which can be applied in a variety of contexts, foster introspection and dialogue about social issues and challenging topics such as discrimination.

 

SCHOLARSHIP, TRANSFERABLE SKILLS, ACADEMIA & RESEARCH (STAR) SCHOLARS

STAR provides first- and second-year students and transfer students from under-represented, low-income, and/or first-generation college student backgrounds with workshops and small-group mentoring that overcome the barriers of the “hidden curriculum” and help them become involved in research.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Cindy Lustig, PhD, Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies in Psychology; Julie Catanzarite, M.Ed., Student Personnel Administration; Certificate in Higher Education Assessment; 2021-22 graduate student mentors: Nia Nickerson, Erick Aguinaldo, Michael Demidenko, Abby Lucas, Lolita Moss, Tong Suo, Patsy Delacey, Annika From, Mena Davidson, Kathy Xie (group link: https://lsa.umich.edu/psych/undergraduates/star-scholars-program.html)

Lightning Talk: STAR: An evidence-based based program that increases under-represented student involvement in research

Under-represented students often miss out on the benefits of becoming involved in research.  STAR is an evidence-based program that addresses the barriers to under-represented student participation in research.  STAR gives early-stage (1st and 2nd year) undergraduates and 3rd-year transfer students, all of whom meet 2 or more Rackham Merit criteria, the skills and cultural capital to find and engage in research positions.  It has dramatically increased under-represented student participation in research in our department, and in the senior/honors thesis program.  Importantly, STAR is not just a skills-training program:  It puts a major emphasis on near-peer mentorship and helping STAR Scholars develop their self-confidence and feeling of belonging in the science community.  To quote one of our mentees, “Not only has it successfully made me feel competent enough for a professional environment, research position, and graduate school, it has also significantly eased my anxiety and imposter syndrome.”

2021 Award Recipients

Three University faculty members, one student-led group, and one staff-led group will receive the 2021 Carol Hollenshead Inspire Award for Excellence in Promoting Equity and Social Change.

Kristi Gamarel is the John G. Searle Assistant Professor of Health Behavior and Health Education in the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Her research focuses on addressing health inequities experienced by LGBTQ+ communities. She is a founding member of the “Love Her Collective,” which is a community-academic partnership between the Trans Sistas of Color Project (TSoCP) with the expressed mission of holistically addressing the health needs of transgender women of color in Detroit, Michigan.

Lightning Talk:  The Love Her Collective: A community-academic partnership to work towards inequity with and for trans women of color in Detroit
VIEW INSPIRE LIGHTNING TALK HERE

This talk will introduce the Love Her Collective, which is a community-academic partnership with the Trans Sistas of Color Project. The Love Her Collective team members will describe our partnership and ongoing research and advocacy efforts designed to work towards health equity with and for transgender women of color in Detroit, Michigan.

Nicolai Lehnert obtained a Diploma in Chemistry in 1995 from the Heinrich-Heine-University in Düsseldorf, Germany. He then moved to the Johannes Gutenberg-University in Mainz, Germany, where he received his Ph.D. in 1999 under the supervision of Priv.-Doz. Dr. F. Tuczek and Prof. P. Gütlich. From 1999 to 2001 he conducted postdoctoral research with Prof. E. I. Solomon at Stanford University. He then moved back to Germany for his Habilitation, which he received in 2006 from the Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel, Germany, working with Prof. F. Tuczek. In 2006 he accepted a faculty position at the University of Michigan. His work is focused on the coordination chemistry of nitric oxide as it pertains to biological systems, in particular NO reductases, but also heme proteins and biocatalysis. In 2013 he formed a partnership with Cass Technical High School in Detroit to provide summer internships to Cass students to perform full-time research for seven weeks in a chemistry laboratory at the University of Michigan (the UM Detroit Research Internship Summer Experience, D-RISE).

Lightning Talk:  D-RISE: Encouraging and Growing STEM Participation
VIEW INSPIRE LIGHTNING TALK HERE

In 2013, Lehnert formed a partnership with Cass Tech in Detroit to provide summer internships to high school students from Cass Tech to perform full-time research for 7 weeks in a chemistry laboratory at the University of Michigan (the UM Detroit Research Internship Summer Experience, D-RISE). The goal of this program is to increase underrepresented minority participation in the sciences by motivating the participating students to attend college and work in STEM areas. The most important hallmark of D-RISE is that the high school students do not just observe their graduate students and/or postdoctoral mentors in the laboratory, but the high school students perform full-time hands-on research for 40 hours per week on projects that are directly related to their mentors‘ research projects. In this way, the participating high school students obtain a real research experience, and they are in fact able to produce enough results from their own work to fill full-size research posters at the end of the project. The second important hallmark of the program is the fact that the students actually stay on campus during the week (Mon. – Fri.), giving them a real college experience, and providing them with the opportunity to explore campus life (supervised by a chaperone) and to interact with undergraduate and graduate students and faculty “after hours”, and in this way, to build lasting relationships with their mentors.

Marilee A. Benore is a Professor of Biochemistry and Biology in the Natural Sciences Department at the University of Michigan Dearborn. She teaches biochemistry courses as well as those that intersect science, equity, and inclusion. She is active in the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, serving as National Director of the student chapters, and is a member of the Women in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Committee. She is co-author of a popular lab manual. Her lab investigates vitamin transport using Riboflavin Binding Protein (RBP) in the hen as a model, and with collaborators is developing an assay to measure riboflavin in at-risk populations. In addition to lab work, she seeks to understand the persistence of women in STEM via oral histories and surveys. She has won awards for mentoring and is co-chair of the UM Academic Women’s Caucus Sarah Goddard Power Award Committee. She was director of the UM-Dearborn Women in Learning and Leadership and has been selected as an Arden Interdisciplinary Scholar. More information is available at umdearborn.edu/users/marilee.

Lightning Talk:  STEM Women- the stories and the paths that illustrate the journey to a STEM career
VIEW INSPIRE LIGHTNING TALK HERE

As a scientist, Benore has found many ways of supporting girls and women in achieving success. She loved the interactions, the joy, the spontaneity, and how they could mentor and build confidence in young women. Benore attended a small catholic college and chose as a focus area to be immersed in a world of women dedicated to change through action. As a chemist in industry, she experienced demoralizing sexual harassment, impacting her decision to earn a PhD and make a difference in academics. After being awarded the Sarah Goddard Power award in 2004 she became active and co-chaired the awards for many years with the AWC and in partnership with CEW+. It is enormously important to share the stories of the awardees. Benore realized that she no longer wanted to focus on obstructions but explore the successful traits, experiences, and choices of women in STEM. This is a global issue, and the stories as oral history are potent in understanding resilience and success. Some people require a roadmap, and some just need roadside assistance. She wishes to share the stories to support others on their journeys to success.

Developing Future Biologists (DFB) is an educational outreach organization led by graduate students and postdocs at the University of Michigan. Its mission is to ensure that the next generation of biologists, regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic status, can learn the core concepts of developmental biology and are made aware of the vast opportunities that exist to pursue a career in the sciences. DFB organizes a week-long summer short course aimed at teaching undergraduate students fundamental concepts in developmental biology in a small class setting with close instructor-student mentorship. Throughout the week students attend interactive lectures, hands-on lab sections, and professional development workshops. More information is available at developingfuturebiologists.com.

Lightning Talk:  Developing Future Biologists: Removing barriers for students from underserved populations who wish to pursue careers in biomedical research.
VIEW INSPIRE LIGHTNING TALK HERE

Obtaining a biomedical research career is particularly challenging for underserved populations who face disadvantages including financial and travel limitations, and insufficient mentorship and networking. This lightning talk focuses on the impact that our lab-intensive short course has on success rates for underserved students, and strategies that we have employed to further promote the careers of these students. Developing Future Biologists (DFB), hosts a week-long immersive developmental biology short course to expose underserved undergraduates to numerous model organisms, professional development workshops, and panels, and ultimately to inspire them to pursue a biomedical career. We recently expanded our reach to include virtual conference awards, TA fellowships and paid summer research internships. Many of our student alumni have been accepted into post-baccalaureate, graduate, and professional programs. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in biomedicine and believe programs like DFB are excellent stepping stones for propelling underserved undergraduates into biomedical research careers.

Caitlin Taylor (she/her) and Rikki Morrow-Spitzer (she/her) both currently serve as staff for the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, where they both received their degrees in music. In 2018, they helped establish the Faculty and Staff Allies Network for Sexual Misconduct, and in 2020 released the Sexual Misconduct Toolkit: a Guide for Faculty and Staff in the Performing Arts, which is now being used as a model across campus. They are both passionate about creating and evaluating programs, policies, and practices for greater equity and inclusion. More information is available at smtd.umich.edu/about/faculty-profiles/caitlin-taylor and smtd.umich.edu/about/faculty-profiles/rikki-morrow-spitzer.

Lightning Talk:  Addressing the Reality: A Journey of Creating a Community that is Free from Sexual Harassment and Misconduct
VIEW INSPIRE LIGHTNING TALK HERE

As staff at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, we have been part of a community that has struggled on a very public forum from allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment over the past four years. As alumnae of the institution, we grappled deeply with the pain that our community has suffered, and have worked to begin shifting the culture to one that is equitable and inclusive, free from sexual harassment and misconduct. Specifically, we are working towards a culture of transparency, support, and accountability. Our lightning talk will outline the painful reality we found ourselves in, and the steps we have taken to reach our goals. This includes establishing a support network for faculty and staff, re-evaluating policies and processes, creating resources that are specific to our community, and building partnerships across campus for informed and long-term change.

2020 Award Recipients

Click here to view all of the lightning talks in the full recording of the symposium.

Kate Fitzpatrick-Harnish, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Music Education and acting Associate Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs (Fall, 2020) for the School of Music, Theatre and Dance at the University of Michigan. Before coming to U-M in the fall of 2008, Fitzpatrick served as Assistant Professor of Music Education and Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Louisville. Fitzpatrick is an active and prolific researcher, focusing on the experiences of those who have been historically marginalized in music education. Her research has been published in the Journal of Research in Music Education, Research Studies in Music Education, the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, Contributions to Music Education, Southwestern Musician, the Music Educators Journal, and the Journal of Mixed Methods Research, in addition to numerous book chapters. Her book, Urban Music Education: A Practical Guide for Teachers, was published in 2015 by Oxford University Press. Fitzpatrick has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Research in Music Education and Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, and was an inaugural member of the Higher Education Advisory Council for the Save the Music Foundation. She is the past national elected chair of the Social Sciences Special Research Interest Group for the National Association of Music Education, and also serves as a frequent clinician and guest conductor with bands across the United States. An avid supporter of public school music programs, she is the former director of instrumental music at Northland High School in Columbus, Ohio, where she directed the district’s largest band and orchestra program and was awarded the Brass Band of Columbus’ 2003 God and Country Award, recognizing her “outstanding, sensitive leadership of young people.”

Lightning Talk:  Dismantling Systematic Marginalization and Oppression in Arts Education.  VIEW INSPIRE LIGHTNING TALK HERE
The arts play an essential and powerful role in how people view and experience the world as human beings. The reality of arts education today, however, is that the greatest access to the arts is provided within our most well-resourced schools for our most well-resourced children, provoking profound questions of equity, marginalization, and oppression that often follow racial and socioeconomic lines. Beginning with an award-winning career as a high school band director in a large urban district, Dr. Kate Fitzpatrick has spent over 20 years studying systems of oppression and marginalization in music and arts education. Within this lightning talk, she will discuss how her positionality as a white teacher of students of color led her to explore issues of privilege and allyship that have profoundly shaped her journey as a scholar, author, teacher, and mentor in arts education.

Rogério Pinto accepting on behalf of the Faculty Allies for Diversity Committee: Born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Rogério M. Pinto is a Professor and Associate Dean for Research at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. He is the co-chair of the Faculty Allies for Diversity Committee. In his work, Pinto focuses on finding academic, sociopolitical, and cultural venues for broadcasting voices of oppressed individuals and groups. Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, his community-engaged research focuses on the impact of interprofessional collaboration on the delivery of evidence-based services to marginalized racial/ethnic and sexual minority individuals. Funded by the University of Michigan Office of Research, as a new scholarly pursuit, he is building an art installation, The Realm of the Dead, to investigate his own personal marginalization as a gender non-conforming, mixed-race, and Latinx immigrant. This installation will serve as the stage set for Pinto’s award-winning theatrical performance, Marília, a one-person play, in which Pinto further explores the tragic death of his 3-year old sister, Marília, and how such loss haunts and inspires the lives of the family members she left behind. Marília won the 2015 United Solo Festival Best Documentary Script and it will be performed again at the University of Michigan as part of the centennial celebration of the School of Social Work.

Lightning Talk:  Diversity Matters: How about Equity and Inclusion?  VIEW INSPIRE LIGHTNING TALK HERE
This lightning talk focuses on advancing racial/ethnic minority scholars to finish their academic programs, graduate, and find jobs, and on providing academic institutions with the goals to (1) welcome diverse students and immediately (2) develop programs, activities, and events to ensure equity and inclusion so as to (3) help students develop social capital. The talk will inform programming to help students find (4) social support – emotional, concrete, informational – to (5) access institutional resources during their academic years and beyond. Programming includes scholarly writing workshops and spaces for addressing structural issues affecting racial/ethnic minorities (e.g., weekly COVID-19 online forum). This has been a sustained effort with demonstrable outcomes (e.g., more publications, more grants, more visibility at national conferences) stemming from creative approaches to advocacy (e.g., a Research Day in which PhD students display their research in poster format) and full participation in problem-solving (e.g., social hour to discuss job market difficulties).

Reshma Jagsi, M.D., D.Phil., is the Newman Family Professor and Deputy Chair in the Department of Radiation Oncology and Director of the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine at the University of Michigan. An internationally recognized clinical trialist and health services researcher in the field of breast cancer, Dr. Jagsi has coauthored over 300 publications. She has also devoted a substantial portion of her service to the institution and her scholarly effort to promoting gender equity in academic medicine. She is a frequently invited lecturer on this subject, having delivered keynote or plenary talks at the National Institutes of Health, the National Academies, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the American Medical Association, and for dozens of other institutions and medical specialty organizations in the US and abroad. Her investigations of women’s under-representation in senior positions in academic medicine and the mechanisms that must be targeted to promote equity have been funded by an NIH R01 grant and grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Doris Duke Foundation, AMA, and other philanthropic funders. Active in organized medicine, she has served on the Steering Committee of the AAMC’s Group on Women in Medicine in Science, which recently recognized her with its Leadership Award.

Lightning Talk:  Promoting Gender Equity in the Professions: Insights from Academic Medicine.  VIEW INSPIRE LIGHTNING TALK HERE
As a physician-bioethicist who also holds a doctorate in social science, a key focus of my scholarly work has been focused on developing evidence-based interventions to promote gender equity in medicine. In my talk, I will briefly describe the evidence that suggests that the ongoing dearth of women in leadership positions in medicine is not simply due to a slow pipeline but rather due to the differential challenges of unconscious biases, gendered expectations of society, and overt discrimination and harassment (with sexual harassment in medicine being more common than in any other profession studied by organizational psychologists to date). I will then describe several concrete, targeted interventions to promote gender equity at the national and local levels in which I have had the privilege of playing a leadership role.

2019 Award Recipients

VIEW INSPIRE LIGHTNING TALK HERE
Marita R. Inglehart, Dipl. Psych., Dr. phil., Dr. phil. habil. is a Professor of Dentistry in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine at the School of Dentistry and an Adjunct Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychology in LS & A at the University of Michigan. Her teaching of dental and dental hygiene students focuses on educating patient-centered and culturally sensitive future dental care providers who appreciate interprofessional collaborations. Her research focuses on the role of psycho-social factors in providing care and increasing access to care for underserved patient populations such as patients from socio-economically disadvantaged and/or racial/ethnic minority backgrounds, patients with special health care needs and/or from LGBTQ+ backgrounds.

VIEW INSPIRE LIGHTNING TALK HERE
Michelle A. Meade, PhD is an Associate Professor in the U-M Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. As a rehabilitation psychologist, she conducts research with, provides clinical services to, and advocates for individuals with physical disabilities. Dr. Meade is currently the Principal Investigator and Director of two federally funded interdisciplinary Centers focusing on disability issues – the U-M Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) and Technology Increasing Knowledge: Technology Optimizing Choice (TIKTOC) which is focused on developing and evaluating mobile technologies to enhance health management and independence among adolescents and young adults with disabilities; and the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Investigating Disability factors and promoting Environmental Access for Healthy Living (IDEAL RRTC), which is focused on promoting healthy aging for individuals with long-term physical disabilities. Dr. Meade also serves as co-chair of the Michigan Medicine Disability Council and the Co-director for the U -M Collaboratory for Disability Health.

VIEW INSPIRE LIGHTNING TALK HERE
David C. Michener, PhD is the curator at the U-M Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum. Best known to the public for his co-authored book Peony, which made the New York Times 2018 Summer Reading List, his research addresses understanding the complex cross-cultural heritages of ornamental peonies and conserving key living specimens. He has an active program in molecular-evidence of peony relationships with colleagues and students here at U-M and in Belarus. His work with Indigenous Seeds in museum collections is an unanticipated intersection of deep engagement with U-M’s Museum Studies Program (Rackham Graduate School) and an ethical concern with the ‘Voice’ of Indigenous Communities in interpreting native plant collections and landscapes stewarded by the Botanical Gardens & Arboretum. Before coming to Michigan, David earned his BA in Botany (UNC-Chapel Hill), and his PhD (Claremont Graduate School) was followed by a NSF-funded postdoc at Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum.

VIEW INSPIRE LIGHTNING TALK HERE
Natalie Sampson, PhD, MPH is an Assistant Professor of Public Health at  UM-Dearborn, where she teaches courses in environmental health, community organizing, and health promotion. Grounded primarily in Southeast Michigan, she studies transportation and land use planning, stormwater infrastructure, vacant land reuse, and climate change planning efforts, particularly their implications for health. She applies participatory research approaches with diverse partners using a broad methodological toolkit, including photovoice, concept mapping, and health impact assessment. In 2017, Dr. Sampson received the American Public Health Association’s Rebecca Head Award, which recognizes “an outstanding emerging leader from the environmental field working at the nexus of science, policy, and environmental justice.” Dr. Sampson holds a Bachelor of Science from U-M’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment (now U-M SEAS), an MPH from the Portland State University, and a PhD from U-M’s School of Public Health.

VIEW INSPIRE LIGHTNING TALK HERE
Wendy Ann Woods, MS served the citizens of Ann Arbor as City Councilwoman from 2001 to 2007. She is a strong advocate for affordable housing, a vibrant downtown, a balanced budget, a living wage ordinance, and corporate social responsibility. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry Management and a Master of Science degree in Environmental Policy and Management at the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Michigan. Woods is the Associate Director of the Michigan Community Scholars Program (MCSP), a nationally recognized living-learning program at the U-M that focuses on social justice, community service, diversity, and civic engagement. She also teaches a seminar for the students in MCSP, is a member of the Association of Black Professionals, Faculty, Administrators, and Staff at U-M; and serves on the Advisory Board for the University Outreach Council.

2018 Award Recipients

Pamela Aronson, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, Department of Behavioral Sciences, UM-Dearborn

Lightning talk title: “Gender Revolution in the Trump Era“
Workshop title: “Gender Revolution in the Trump Era: Transformations in Consciousness & Gender Relations”

Explore the rapid transformation in gender consciousness and gender relations during this workshop with Dr. Pamela Aronson. Attendees will discuss changes stemming from three primary sources: the rise of women running for political office in 2018, the emergence of new social movement activism, and the creation of the “#MeToo” movement, which has sparked a new public discourse on sexual assault and harassment. While exploring the ways that this new consciousness has also faced backlash and opposition, this workshop will shed light on the emerging gender revolution by examining how rapid transformations are influencing everyday relationships between men and women. A hands-on wellness activity will be presented by the CEW+Inspire team to complement this workshop.

Jacqueline Kaufman, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical School

Lightning talk title: “Creating access: Inclusion of disability in the natural diversity of our communities“
Workshop title: “Inclusion of Individuals with Disabilities: Using Your Skills and Gifts to Create Access in Your Community”
VIEW WORKSHOP HERE

This workshop encourages attendees to consider how they can work to be deliberately more inclusive of individuals with disabilities in their local and world communities. While exploring the unique journey of Dr. Jacqueline Kaufman as she shifted from hard sciences to clinical psychology, attendees will examine how to pull from their full range of experiences to forge their own path. After discussing the complexity of defining disability, attendees will consider the experiences of individuals living with disabilities and the debates and conversations about disability that are taking place in our communities. To wrap up the session, a hands-on activity will promote problem-solving, encourage the generation of realistic strategies for optimizing access for individuals with disabilities, and encourage participants to take first steps in their lives to create a more universally accessible community.

Achyuta Adhvaryu, Ph.D., Mphil, M.A., Assistant Professor of Business Economics, Ross School of Business; and Faculty Associate, Population Studies Center, Institute for Social Research

Lightning talk title: “Unlocking Economic Opportunities for Women in India”
Workshop title: “You Can Shake the World”: My Ongoing Journey as a Development Economist

This workshop focuses on the work and research of development economist Dr. Achyuta Adhvaryu. While exploring what forces trap people in poverty, attendees will discuss the role the private sector can play in improving the welfare of low-income individuals. Learning about the ways women are marginalized socially and institutionally, participants will consider methods for intervention to unlock economic opportunity for women. Diving deeper, attendees will explore the impacts these interventions have on women and their families. While discussing Dr. Achyuta Adhvaryu’s inspiration for choosing his career path, attendees will learn methods to “shake the world” as Gandhi once said. A hands-on wellness activity will be presented by the CEW+Inspire team to complement this workshop.

Cindy Leung, ScD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health

Lightning talk title: “It’s a feeling that one is not worth food: the experience of hunger among low-income children, families and college students“
Workshop title: “Understanding Nutrition and Community Health – A Journey from Service to Research to Advocacy”

During this workshop, attendees will follow Dr. Cindy Leung’s trajectory in public health. Exploring her early work in local food banks with food-insecure populations and her scientific research on the effectiveness of our federal food programs, attendees will then discuss her present-day qualitative research to better understand the lived experiences of food-insecure individuals. Participants will learn about populations affected by food insecurity, including low-income families and college students. To wrap up the session, attendees will learn how all of this information is being used to design programs and affect future policies to benefit food-insecure populations. A hands-on wellness activity will be presented by the CEW+ Inspire team to complement this workshop.

2017 Award Recipients

Trina R. Shanks, PhD – 2017 Faculty Awardee

Dr. Trina R. Shanks is an Associate Professor at the U-M School of Social Work and also serves as a Faculty Associate at the Survey Research Center in the Institute for Social Research. In her current research, funded by the Ford Foundation, Dr. Shanks is co-investigator for the Saving for Education, Entrepreneurship, and Downpayment Impact Assessment study, which has set up a quasi-experimental research design to test the impact of offering Head Start families college education plans for their children.

Dr. Shanks has been actively engaged over a ten-year period in six Detroit communities as part of the Good Neighborhoods program. She is also an evaluator of Detroit’s City Summer Youth Employment Program, Grow Detroit’s Young Talent. Dr. Shanks has served on the Michigan State Commission on Community Action and Economic Opportunity, and is currently one of the national network co-leads for the Social Work Grand Challenge: Reversing Extreme Economic Inequality. A former Peace Corps volunteer and Rhodes scholar, Shanks earned a PhD in Social Work from Washington University, and a MS in Comparative Social Research from the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.

CEW is honored to recognize Dr. Trina Shanks for her stellar research and scholarship efforts on the intersection of race, education, poverty and health in families, particularly for the impact of the two studies that have greatly impacted the lives of numerous families in southeastern Michigan.

Katrina C. Wade-Golden, PhD – 2017 Staff Awardee

Dr. Katrina C. Wade-Golden is the Assistant Vice Provost and newly appointed Deputy Chief Diversity Officer. In this capacity, she serves as the director of planning and implementation for the University-wide Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategic Plan. An accomplished researcher with 20+ years of project management experience, Dr. Wade-Golden leads several projects including the Michigan Student Study which served a pivotal role in buttressing the University’s legal rationale before the Supreme Court surrounding the educational benefits of a diverse student body. Prior to her position in the Provost Office, Dr. Wade-Golden was the Assistant Director and Senior Research Scientist in the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives.

Dr. Wade-Golden is the co-author of Strategic Diversity Leadership (2007) and The Chief Diversity Officer: Strategy Structure, and Change Management (2013), a 2-part primer for university leaders on the function of the chief diversity officer. Dr. Wade-Golden earned both a MS and Ph.D. in Industrial/ Organizational (I/O) Psychology from Wayne State University, and holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan with an emphasis in human resources and organizational development.

CEW is thrilled to recognize Dr. Katrina C. Wade-Golden’s scholarship and strategic leadership on the U-M institutional DEI plan as well as her work at OAMI on the Michigan Study of the Undergraduate Student Experience with the 2017 Carol Hollenshead Staff Award.

2016 Winners

Faculty Awardee

Omolala (Lola) Eniola-Adefeso, PhD., Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, for her efforts to create STEM pipeline programs for women and students of color in order to diversify the field of Engineering.

Professor Lola Eniola-Adefeso has been a game changer in enhancing the culture and climate of the department of Chemical Engineering. As part of the Chemical Engineering department’s graduate committee since 2008, she was instrumental in improving the quality and diversity in the PhD program. Since taking reins as graduate chair, diversity in this department’s graduate program has further improved while maintaining high standards – the current first year PhD class has 44% women and 26% underrepresented minority. As a 2015 Faculty Fellow, Eniola-Adefeso’s focus was on faculty diversity. Her work resulted in several suggestions that were implemented by the department where she currently chairs the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) faculty sub-committee for the College of Engineering. Last year, she chaired the NextProf workshop which brings graduate students and postdocs to campus to learn more about becoming a faculty member. In addition, Prof. Eniola-Adefeso created a project for College of Engineering undergradutes to interact with high school students in Ypsilanti and Detroit. According to Dean Alec Gallimore, “the creativity she (Lola) draws upon mostly comes from her reaching out to have discussions with others…and she provides a great example of what can be replicated elsewhere in CoE and across U-M – good actionable recommendations and conclusions.”

Staff Awardee

Jack Bernard, JD, Associate General Counsel, Office of the Vice President and General Counsel for his decades of work to achieve greater equity for those persons who have learning and visual difficulties.

Attorney Jack Bernard has been a leader since his days as a student here on campus. He joined the University of Michigan as a staff person in 1999 and serves as Associate General Counsel. His primary areas of responsibility include intellectual property, academic freedom and speech, privacy, security, computing and cyberlaw, media rights, student rights, affiliation agreements, and disability law. He is currently Chair of the University of Michigan’s Council for Disability Concerns (CFDC). From his earliest association with the University of Michigan, Attorney Bernard has been a campus leader in promoting accommodation and inclusion of people with disabilities. He has been instrumental in establishing the Hathitrust which provides access to resource materials to individuals with learning and visual difficulties. And his leadership of the Barrier-Free Computer Users Group (BFCUG), among other activities, won him the James T. Neubacher Award, the highest recognition for disability awareness bestowed by U-M, while he was still a student. CFDC committee member, Anna Ercoli Schnitzer, described Jack Bernard as “kind and caring, reaching out in a low-key but effective manner to do whatever he can to provide fairness to all–faculty/staff/students and even alumni.”

2015 Award Recipients

The 2015 recipients of the U-M Center for the Education of Women’s Carol Hollenshead Award for Excellence in Promoting Equity and Social Change are Sandra Gregerman, Director of the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), and Edward Goldman, Adjunct Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Sandy Gregerman has directed and developed Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) for over twenty years. She has connected thousands of students and mentors, with an emphasis on creating research opportunities for underrepresented groups that will strengthen their academic experience and reduce attrition. Under her leadership, what began as a modest effort to engage first- and second-year undergraduates, expanded to become the premier and longest running program of its kind. Gregerman conducts workshops across the country to share the UROP model, which demonstrates the importance of early engagement in undergraduate research.

By working closely with many U-M programs, Gregerman ensures that diverse students have access to undergraduate research. This includes the Comprehensive Studies Program, new “mobile” science and engineering programs, Women in Science, Women in Engineering, M-STEM academies, as well as programs for humanities and social science research. She created the model “alternative pathways” program to introduce qualified community college students to research and facilitate their transfer to U-M. UROP also offers outplacement programs conducted both in- and outside the university, in particular a research program in Detroit to benefit non-profit community based organizations and their constituencies.

In addition, Gregerman developed programming to support the success of young students in research through an innovative peer advising program that facilitates seminars on research methods, research ethics and integrity, and multicultural issues in research.

Gregerman is recognized as a passionate advocate and mentor of minority students, women, and those under-served in society. According to Professor John Jonides, “she has done this work with vision, creativity, complete dedication, and skillful negotiation with faculty and administrative units.”

Ed Goldman is an attorney who headed the U-M Health System Legal Office from 1978 to 2009. From 2004 to 2009, he also served as associate vice president and deputy general counsel for the University. In 2009 he moved to the Medical School Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as an Adjunct Associate Professor in order to create its Sexual Rights and Reproductive Justice Program. He also holds teaching appointments in Public Health, Women’s Studies, and the Law School. He is also working with a law school in Ghana to create a Law Students for Reproductive Justice chapter and a teaching curriculum in women’s rights.

A 2013 conference led by Goldman drew over 200 participants to further collaborations on sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice in the U.S. and Africa. Goldman subsequently received a Ford Foundation grant aimed at improving capacity and collaboration across reproductive rights organizations in Michigan.

As a health system attorney, Goldman encouraged a proactive and collaborative approach to solving problems in order to limit the risk of lawsuits. He organized small groups of physicians, nurses, students and social workers to discuss patient access to information and cooperation. He suggested Grand Rounds trainings that crossed faculty disciplines and professional roles, resulting in improved decision-making and policies benefiting patients.

Professor Alexandra Stern describes Goldman as “a creative, smart, funny, and gentle problem solver…. an advocate and an academic who works exceedingly well with advocates out in the ‘real world.’” Colleague Sallie Foley says “he has the ability to pull the best from others …. He truly reflects Carol Hollenshead’s attributes.”

The 2015 Carol Hollenshead Award was presented on Wednesday April 1, 2015 in the Kahn Auditorium at BSRB. The award ceremony preceded a free public lecture by Ms. Michel Martin, an American journalist and correspondent for National Public Radio and ABC News, gave the keynote address.

2014 Award Recipients

Kathleen Donohoe, Associate Director of Human Resources for Policy

Kathleen Donohoe’s commitment to service, justice and gender and social equity have spanned the length of her 24-year storied career with the United States Coast Guard and her 11 years with the University of Michigan. Appointed the first Director of the University’s Sexual Harassment Policy Office in 1999, Ms. Donohoe has educated the U-M community on ways to prevent, recognize and respond to sexual harassment. She vigilantly investigated incidents reported by faculty, staff and students. She was one of the chief architects of the University’s award-winning “Abuse Hurts: Recognize, Respond and Refer” program which delivers training on abuse recognition and prevention, and provides educational and sustaining support.

Since 2007, Donohoe has served as Associate Director of Policy in the office of University Human Resources. In this role she manages the creation, review and implementation of the University’s human resources’ policies and practices – making it her mission to create policies that service everyone and are effective, just and understandable. Donohoe exemplifies servant leadership in her role as a member of Safehouse Center’s board of directors, whose mission it is to build communities free of domestic and sexual violence. Always the stalwart and supportive leader, she maintains the focus on survivors while strategically strengthening the institutional systems at the University and in the greater community to confront the impacts of violence against women.

Dorceta Taylor, Professor of Environmental Sociology at the School of Natural Resources and the Environment and the Program in Environment

Dorceta Taylor founded and directs the Multicultural Environmental Leadership Development Initiative (MELDI), which promotes diversity in the environmental movement and in the leadership of environmental organizations. She started MELDI in 2002 to help those with no ties to traditional environmental networks gain access to them through admission into university environmental programs, as well as internships, jobs and board roles in environmental organizations.In addition to providing career resources, the MELDI website highlights outstanding achievements by minorities in the environmental field, and includes directories, maps and databases on food insecurity, as well as databases of environmental justice researchers worldwide.

Dr. Taylor encourages students and faculty to be community activists by using their research to meaningfully address environmental issues. Her courses explore themes of social inequality, poverty, mobilization, and environment, emphasizing active, field-based engagement. Her research has helped diffuse stereotypes and legitimized claims of environmental racism and discrimination. Her research supports policies that enhance quality of life in minority and poor communities. One example is her work with Growing Hope, a successful Ypsilanti community garden initiative. Taylor structured her research grant so that low-income community residents are full partners rather than subjects to be studied. Community representatives participate on the advisory board and in research meetings and have great leeway in designing the community project.

2013 Award Recipients

Carol Hutchins, Head Coach for Women’s Softball, for her relentless commitment to improve the experience of female student-athletes at UM and across the country.

Carol (“Hutch”) Hutchins’ commitment to gender equity in intercollegiate athletics began as a student-athlete at Michigan State University when she successfully sued the MSU Board of Regents to demand equal rights for the women’s sports programs. Hutch’s fight for equitable opportunities for women continued throughout her 31 years of service at U-M as she sought to provide equal resources and experiences for her student-athletes. Her commitment to gender equity has assured that women at U-M have the scholarships, positive experiences, and educational opportunities to develop into incredible leaders.

The winningest coach in Michigan Athletics history, Hutch’s leadership, spirit, and generosity have elevated the recognition of women in sports, within the Big 10 and beyond. Hutch and her Michigan Softball following have also been significant fundraisers and supporters for breast cancer research and other notable charities like Mott Children’s Hospital.

Carol Fierke, Professor and Chair, Department of Chemistry, for leadership in transforming her department into a national model of diversity, inclusiveness and excellence.

Since 1999, Carol has led the Chemistry department through a rigorous evaluation and transformation process. For example, she implemented an open search process, which challenged traditional divisions held within chemistry. Because women and minorities are more likely to work in the intersections of the field, Carol made sure every search committee had faculty from all the domains..The climate there now fosters inclusion and success for all its members, and serves as a resource to others wishing to emulate that change. With a more diverse, interdisciplinary and vibrant assortment of faculty, Carol helped U-M Chemistry move into the top 10 of U.S. Chemistry departments.

Carol also increased transparency in the tenure and promotion process, and launched an enhanced mentoring structure for junior faculty. The mentoring program has been so successful that it will be extended to all STEM disciplines in LS&A and Engineering. As a member of the STRIDE committee, she educates faculty about “Strategies and Tactics for Recruiting to Improve Diversity and Excellence.”

2012 Award Recipients

Professor Edith (Edie) Lewis of the University of Michigan School of Social Work and Department of Women’s Studies centered her research and teaching on social justice concerns since arriving at UM in 1985. (Since winning the award, she has retired from the UM.) Her primary research interests included methods used by women of color to offset personal, familial, community, and professional role strain. Lewis also worked extensively in Ghana on women’s successful economic development strategies.

Lewis’s strategies for approaching advocacy and problem solving for oppressed groups have become part of the required training for MSW students. Outside of the classroom, she has actively fostered a sense of community for generations of women of color faculty, staff and students campus-wide, through her personal support, mentorship, and her role in establishing the Women of Color in the Academy Project.

Catherine Lilly is the Senior Advisor to Tim Slottow, the UM Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. She has devoted her career to promoting diversity and inclusion and to developing leadership and organizational effectiveness among University employees. Among Lilly’s accomplishments are directing the Business and Finance Leadership Academy, leading UM Diversity Community Conferences in 2009 and 2010, leading the Business and Finance Diversity Committee, helping launch the Business and Finance Diversity Passport, and implementing the Business and Finance Diversity Plan. In addition, she is an active member of a UM labor-management partnership that strives to reduce conflict and grievances by addressing issues proactively.

Lilly was also instrumental in the creation of the New Millennium Leaders Series (now the CEW Advanced Leadership Program) and VOICES of the Staff. Trained as a social worker, Lilly has a long record as an organizational development consultant within and beyond the University.