°”TV celebrated the 2023 recipients of the Chancellorâs Achievement Awards for Diversity and Community, as well as the 20th anniversary of the awards program, in a March 29 ceremony at the Chancellorâs Residence.
Here we present the award winnersâ names and brief affiliations, and invite you to . Awards were presented in six categories to the following:
- Zina Austin, staff
- Alexus Roberts Hugghis, graduate student
- Fuifuilupe Niumeitolu, post-doctorate
- Stephany Sanchez, Academic Federation
- Brian Soucek, Academic Senate
- Emma Tolliver, undergraduate
âTalent, tenacity, commitmentâ
In her welcome remarks, Renetta Garrison Tull, vice chancellor of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, noted the impetus for the programâs founding 20 years ago: to honor exemplary accomplishments that contribute in substantial ways to the development and well-being of our diverse and evolving community.
âTonightâs awardees were nominated and selected as their service, scholarship, contributions, leadership and outstanding efforts embody the .â
Chancellor Gary S. May also addressed the audience: âThe award winners we recognize today remind me of how much talent, tenacity and commitment to diversity we find across °”TV and our region.
âOur award recipients come from a wide range of backgrounds, and represent different fields. Theyâre the people who are helping to push °”TV to deepen our connections and impact across our increasingly diverse communities.
He acknowledged the work that lies ahead: âThere remain opposing forces that constantly push against our efforts to integrate diversity, equity and inclusion in all we do.
âThatâs why itâs so important to uplift and highlight °”TV, students, faculty, staff, and post-doctoral students who do the great work of exemplifying our Principles of Community.â
DEI RETIREE
Vickie Gomez, center, is pictured with LeShelle May and Chancellor May, who took the opportunity after the awards ceremony to congratulate Gomez on her pending retirement from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She has worked in the Office of Campus Community Relations (now part of DEI) for 15 years, leading initiatives and programs to foster diversity, equity and inclusion, including the Chancellorâs Achievement Awards for Diversity and Community, and Soaring to New Heights. She was instrumental in the development of the universityâs Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Vision. She is retiring in June as the director of Campus Community Engagement. She has worked in higher education for 35 years: 14 in a TRiO counseling program at San ŽłŽÇČőĂ© State University and the last 21 at °”TV, including six years as an undergraduate advisor in the College of Letters and Science before moving to the Office of Campus Community Relations.
Media Resources
Dateline Staff: Dave Jones, editor, 530-752-6556, dateline@ucdavis.edu; Cody Kitaura, News and Media Relations specialist