Rutgers Presents 2019 Awards Celebrating Diversity and Social Justice
Awards recognize individuals and organizations that demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion at Rutgers and in society
"Today’s program is another milestone in Rutgers University’s efforts to support and promote an inclusive and more diverse community of learners that value interaction between those with differing views and belief systems.''– Barbara Lee
The Committee to Advance Our Common Purposes recently presented awards in two categories to honor Rutgers faculty, staff and organizations for their commitment to promote social justice and diversity. The awards were presented to universitywide honorees during a ceremony attended by 120 people.
The Leaders in Faculty Diversity Awards were presented to three faculty members who have been leaders in promoting diversity, inclusion, equity and access through their research and teaching. The Clement A. Price Human Dignity Awards were presented to faculty, staff, students and community partners in recognition of extraordinary achievement in their work and commitment to promoting and practicing diversity and inclusion at Rutgers University and in partnership with the broader community.
"Today’s program is another milestone in Rutgers University’s efforts to support and promote an inclusive and more diverse community of learners that value interaction between those with differing views and belief systems,'' said Barbara Lee, senior vice president for academic affairs.
The Human Dignity Award was renamed in 2016 in memory of Clement A. Price, a Board of Governors Distinguished Service Professor, in recognition of his humanitarian vision for unity and peace through inclusion and diversity.
A special achievement award was also given to James C. Savage, 1971 alumnus chair, and Claude E. White, class president of the Paul Robeson Plaza Project, and participating members of Rutgers Class of 1971 45th Milestone Campaign Committee to mark the 100th anniversary of Paul Robeson’s graduation from Rutgers College in 1919. The committee recognized their work as envisioning and bringing to fruition the Paul Robeson Plaza Project commemorating the life and legacy of Paul Robeson, Rutgers alumnus, Class of 1919. The honorees also included Wayne H. Goldman, class vice president; Eugene G. Francis; Lawrence J. Perfetti; Robert M. Vance; Paul Von der Heyden; and Ronald D. Wilson.
The recipients are as follows:
2019 Leaders in Faculty Diversity Award
Helen Buettner, professor and chair, School of Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, was honored for her leadership as faculty director of the Douglass Engineering Living-Learning Community, mentoring and cultivating a spirit of collaboration among women engineering students.
Humberto Jimenez, clinical assistant professor in pharmacy practice and administration, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, was honored for his leadership as a professor specializing in infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS research, and mentoring students to become health care professionals and advocates for patients.
Jessica L. Ware, associate professor of biological sciences in the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University-Newark, was recognized for distinguished leadership as director of the graduate program for mentoring students and advocating for LGBTQA+ visibility in STEM graduate programs.
2019 Clement A. Price Human Dignity Award
Crystal Bedley, research manager, Office of Promotion of Women in Science, Engineering and Mathematics, was recognized for exceptional achievement in advancing diversity and inclusion practices that are changing the social climate on campus and for mentoring underrepresented students to seek advanced degrees in STEM.
Gail Caputo, professor of criminal justice, Department of Anthropology, Sociology and Criminal Justice at Rutgers University-Camden, was recognized for distinguished leadership in launching innovative courses and programs to increase awareness of the achievements of women and LGBTQA+ communities.
Carlos Fernandez, director of the Center for Latino Arts and Culture at Rutgers-New Brunswick, was recognized for distinguished leadership in promoting social justice and diversity as director, mentor and advocate for the inclusive rights and visibility of undocumented students.
Alexander Gates, Distinguished Service Professor, Earth and Environmental Sciences in the School of Arts and Sciences-Newark, was recognized for exceptional achievement in educating, mentoring and advocating for underrepresented students in STEM and as director of the award-winning Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program.
Gender Center of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, was honored for visionary leadership in launching a new pedagogy that combines health care fields, humanities and outreach practices to better serve and increase understanding for transgender and LGBTQA+ communities.
Jamie Hendrix, lieutenant, Rutgers-Newark Police Department, was recognized for distinguished leadership and commitment to better serve diverse communities by launching community partnerships that are bridging understanding and respect between the campus and the City of Newark.
Abril Jiménez, Ph.D. candidate, Bilingualism and Second Language Acquisition Program, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, in the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers-New Brunswick, was recognized for distinguished leadership in advancing the benefits of heritage languages and bilingualism in "RU Bilingual", a chapter of Bilingual Matters, as well as for her commitment to community engagement.
Howard McGary, professor of philosophy, Department of Philosophy in the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers-New Brunswick, was honored for over 40 years as a distinguished leader and scholar, for inspiring and educating students of color to study and teach philosophy, and for 23 years as founding director of the national award-winning Rutgers Summer Institute for Diversity in Philosophy.
Maria L. Soto-Greene, vice dean and professor of medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, was recognized for distinguished leadership in mentoring underserved students pursuing medical professions and for advancing social justice as a humanitarian ethos in the medical field.
Student Family Health Care Center, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, was recognized for distinguished leadership in addressing the health care needs for over 50 years in the City of Newark and for launching a satellite clinic led by students and medical professionals that care for families and men and women living in shelters.