On Tuesday, January 21, the recipients of the Chancellor’s Transformational Leadership Award and the Chancellor’s Emerging Leader Award were celebrated for their outstanding contributions to fostering an equitable, inclusive, and accessible university community.
Nina Tissi-Gassoway, Professor of Practice and Program Coordinator for Social Justice Education in the College of Education, received the Chancellor’s Transformational Leadership Award. In presenting the award, Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion, Dr. Marsha McGriff, praised Nina’s expertise in intergroup dialogue and her dedication to building a network of skilled practitioners. “Nina has guided conversations across difference, strengthened relationships on and off campus, and heightened the university’s profile through her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion via collaboration and coalition building,” said Dr. McGriff.
Emelia Obodum Kusi, a PhD candidate in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology in the College of Natural Sciences, was honored with the Chancellor’s Emerging Leader Award. Emelia is an active member of the African Graduate Student Association and the UMass chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS). She has advanced diversity in STEM through mentoring and inspiring aspiring scientists. Outside of UMass, she serves on the Education and Outreach Committee of the Entomological Society of America and leads EKO Global, a foundation dedicated to empowering female scientists in Africa and encouraging the next generation of women to pursue careers in science.
Nominations for these awards open each fall semester, and any member of the UMass community can submit a nomination. Winners are selected by a cross-campus committee.
Congratulations to Nina and Emelia on this well-deserved recognition!
Read more about the event and keynote speaker Yamiche Alcindor's address to the audience here. (via Daily Hampshire Gazette)