Created in 2021, the EMS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards honors graduate students who have demonstrated exemplary leadership that manifests the ideals of diversity, equity and inclusion into practical action. This award will be awarded annually by the EMS Office of Educational Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Award is named after Dr. Catherine Lyons, the first associate dean for educational equity in the college.
Focus
These awards are given in recognition of graduate students who have gone above and beyond in demonstrating awareness, leadership, or commitment to promoting and fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. They are designed to foster an academically enriching and supportive climate for all members of our community and to sustain an inclusive environment, especially for those underrepresented with respect to social identities such as race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and socioeconomic status. An inclusive culture respects and celebrates this diversity as a means to enhance the EMS community.
NOMINATION PROCEDURE
Nominations may be initiated by anyone in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences community, including faculty, staff, postdoctoral scholars and students. Those with joint appointments or students with dual majors or minors are also eligible to submit nominations. Note: Self-nominations are not allowed.
Each nomination must consist of:
- A completed online nomination form
- One supporting letter of recommendation, illustrating specific examples describing how the nominee contributes to an inclusive culture within the context of the college’s mission
- Recent high-resolution color photograph suitable for the program in jpg format
Outstanding accomplishments and general impact may be in one of the following areas:
- Teaching
Development and implementation of effective strategies for teaching that advance the educational experiences of students from underrepresented groups in the classroom, research lab (including mentoring activities around research projects), or other academic settings, including attention to course content as well as instructional practices. - Research
Engagement in research endeavors that advance our understanding of practices that improve diversity, inclusion, and equity, enhance our understanding of factors that influence the experiences and outcomes of members of underrepresented groups, or attend to issues of inequity with a focus on raising awareness or intervening to reduce inequity. - Service/Outreach
Activities that promote the professional and/or academic advancement of members of underrepresented groups. Examples of activities might include:- Recruitment of underrepresented students, faculty, or staff
- Exemplary leadership that manifests the ideals of diversity, equity and inclusion into practical action
- Activities that have contributed to raising awareness and consciousness about diversity and inclusion within the context of the college’s mission
- Student- or staff-centered inclusion initiatives
- Multicultural programming or related initiatives
- Community outreach activities
Deadline
The nomination deadline is February 15 each year.
Eligibility
- Students majoring in a discipline within EMS
- Primary adviser must have their primary appointment within EMS
- Students may earn this award only once
Selection Procedure
Nominations received by the deadline will be reviewed by a committee consisting of a sub-set of the EMS Diversity Council. Potential awardees will be vetted by the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Research (ADGER) prior to finalizing their selection.The recipient shall be honored with a recognition memento and a monetary award at the Wilson Awards Banquet held each spring.
Questions
- Address questions to: edequity@ems.psu.edu. Subject line: EMS Diversity Awards