Fall 2016 Diversity Champions Named; Spring 2017 Nominations Open

January 20, 2017

Nine members of the Old Dominion University community were recently presented with President John R. Broderick Diversity Champion Awards, for the fall 2016 semester, in recognition of their commitment to advancing the University's values of diversity, inclusion and equity.

Nominations for the spring 2017 semester are being accepted until Feb. 28 by ODU's Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity. From the spring and fall recipients, the University's Diversity Champion Award will be presented on April 18, at an end-of-the-year ceremony in the recipient's honor.

The award is designed to honor, celebrate and recognize individuals, from four categories who advance principles of diversity, inclusion and equity (i.e., administration and employees; faculty; students and alumni; Hampton Roads residents).

Nominations can be submitted by anyone. Nominators should explain how the nominee demonstrates an exceptional understanding of diversity, inclusion and equity beyond the call of duty. Nominations can be submitted online to the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity, or delivered in person to 1301 Spong Hall at Old Dominion University.

For the fall semester, the President John R. Broderick Diversity Champion Award recipients are:

• Johnny Young, associate vice president of Student Engagement and Enrollment Services (SEES), for creating a positive social change around values related to diversity, inclusion and equity. Through advising the ODU chapter of the NAACP, the campus SAFE SPACE Committee, and a key leader in Title IX education for students, Young works to create a more inclusive environment for all students across the campus.
• Jasmine Omorogbe, associate director for intercultural initiatives, Office of Intercultural Relations, for being mindful of all cultures and lifestyles. She coordinates co-curricular programs and initiatives that are educational, inclusive, and that bring awareness to Old Dominion.
  
• Jeffrey Moe, assistant professor in the Department of Counseling and Human Services, for his extensive promotion, support and advocacy of the LGBTQ community on and off campus. He continues to foster relationships between the Department of Counseling and Human Services and the LGBT Center of Hampton Roads. Moe has devoted over 40 hours of pro-bono counselling to students in crisis.
• Anthony Dean, associate professor in the Department of Engineering Technology and Engineering Fundamentals Division, for his tremendous impact on the outreach and recruitment of transitioning service-members to STEM disciplines through the development of his "Stern2STEM" program. This initiative provides personalized advising, mentoring and tutoring for student veterans to support their academic and career goals.
• Shari Davis, senior lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, for her outstanding commitment to student success through successfully developing a mathematics course that supports multiple learning styles. The course is tailored for students registered with the Office of Educational Accessibility.
• Arthur McCafferty, president of Relay for Life and a staff member at the Center for Service, for his ability to create a welcoming, respectful and inclusive atmosphere for all students.
• Daija Monroe, an ODU freshman, for exemplifying determination and perseverance and assisting those in need of help.
• Jessica McGee, an Honors College advisor, for helping international students transition to Old Dominion while promoting and practicing cultural exchange.
• Alejandra Diaz-Rangel, an interim assistant director of international initiatives, Office of Intercultural Relations, for championing diversity and inclusion related values through programmatic efforts.

The Diversity Champion Award has been presented at ODU since the 1990s, and ODU's President, John R. Broderick was one of its earliest recipients.

The annual award was renamed for President Broderick, starting with the 2014-15 school year. The renaming was decided upon by the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity after an overwhelming positive response from the campus community to Broderick's support of diversity, inclusion and equity.