The University of Massachusetts Amherst

Graduate Diversity and Inclusion Awards

Each year, the Graduate School selects two members of the university community to receive a Commitment to Diversity Award. This award recognizes one graduate student and one faculty member for their outstanding contributions to diversity and inclusion in graduate education at UMass Amherst.

Selected solely on the strength of nominating letters, each award recipient is recognized annually at the Student of Color Banquet at the end of the Spring semester.

Nomination Process

Nomination Deadline: March 10, 2023 

  • For the faculty award: Any member of the graduate faculty may nominate themselves or another graduate faculty member for this award. Self-nominations are permitted. Nominations by graduate students are also permitted. Nominations materials should consist of the following: A letter from the nominator, and three supporting letters from current or former graduate students. 
  • For the student award: Any graduate student may nominate another graduate student for this award. Self-nominations are not permitted. Letters submitted by multiple students in recognition of a nominee are especially welcome. 
  • Nomination materials should be emailed to grad-communications [at] grad [dot] umass [dot] edu (grad-communications[at]grad[dot]umass[dot]edu) with the subject "Commitment to Diversity <Faculty or Student> Award Nomination for <name> in <department>.
  • The award recipient will be chosen by a committee appointed by the Graduate School.