Description of Awards
As part of its commitment to recognizing excellence and outstanding leadership, Tulane University held its inaugural Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Awards Ceremony on Jan. 19 at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport. The event recognized and celebrated the remarkable commitment shown by the university's faculty, staff, students, units and local organizations toward creating an inclusive environment at Tulane.
These awards were established to highlight the work being done to foster an environment where every Tulanian feels valued and included. The ceremony honored 22 recipients across five categories, each playing an important role in championing a more inclusive and welcoming environment at Tulane and beyond.
Congratulations to the 2024 recipients:
Faculty Awards
The North Star - Faculty EDI Leadership and Service Award
This award recognizes exemplary leadership and service in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in the Tulane and/or the broader community.
Minolfa Prieto, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Medicine
John “Ray” Proctor III, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Liberal Arts
The Navigator – Faculty EDI Mentorship Award
This award acknowledges a faculty member who demonstrates exemplary culturally responsive mentoring to students, trainees, residents, fellows, other faculty or staff.
Hongbing Liu, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Medicine
Michael Yest, Senior Professor of Practice, A. B. Freeman School of Business
The Compass - Faculty EDI Excellence in Teaching Award
This award recognizes faculty’s efforts in integrating equity, diversity and inclusion concepts into their courses and curriculum.
Charles Mignot, Senior Professor of Practice, School of Liberal Arts
Stacy Seicshnaydre, Professor and Vice Dean, School of Law
Robert Westley, Professor, School of Law
Staff Awards
The Oak Tree - Jorge Valentin Diaz Staff EDI Leadership and Service Award
This award recognizes a staff member who actively contributes to equity, diversity and inclusion leadership and service at Tulane University, inspires others to collaborate and find creative solutions for common EDI challenges, and recognizes a staff member who champions racial equity leadership and EDI in action on campus.
Julie Henriquez Aldana, PhD, Administrative Assistant Professor of Women’s Leadership and Director of Student Leadership and Engagement
The Bedrock - Staff EDI Mentorship Award
This award acknowledges a staff person who demonstrates exemplary culturally responsive mentoring to students, other faculty, or staff. This can include formal (mentoring students or student groups as part of their job) and informal mentorship relationships. Being culturally responsive requires having the ability to understand cultural differences, recognize potential biases, and work productively with mentees whose cultural contexts are different from their own.
Carter Lea, Senior Officer Research Proposal, School of Science and Engineering
Brian Johnson, Associate Vice President of Campus Operation
The Canopy - Staff Unit Award
This award recognizes the collective efforts of a service unit that has advanced equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives across the university and that have enriched the campus experience for students, staff, and faculty at Tulane.
Alumni Relations, Office of Advancement
Career Services, Newcomb Tulane College
Student, Resident, Fellows, and Trainee Awards
The Shooting Star - Student EDI Leadership Award
This award recognizes a student, resident, fellow, or trainee leader who is a demonstrated champion of equity, diversity, and inclusion leadership through fostering an inclusive and equitable campus community. This award highlights academic and/or co-curricular commitments to promoting EDI throughout the Tulane student experience.
Wilfred Wright, School of Science and Engineering
Benjamin Swig, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
The Aurora Borealis - Student EDI Service Award
This award recognizes transformative service work by a student, resident, fellow, or trainee that goes beyond Tulane’s community engagement opportunities in their commitment to the New Orleans community, which can include service that contributes to the development and promotion of equity, diversity, and inclusion through social, creative, and innovative endeavors in collaboration with community partners and can include service in New Orleans, the Gulf region, and the world.
Leila Escoto, School of Science and Engineering
Bethany Norwood, School of Medicine
Keenan Cotton, School of Social Work
The Winds of Change – Student Organization EDI Service Award
This award recognizes a Tulane University registered student organization that has demonstrated exceptional and unique equity, diversity, and inclusion service and leadership for the campus, New Orleans, Gulf region, and/or world communities.
Students Against Food Insecurity
Other Awards
Strategy for Tomorrow – Bolster Award (Individual)
This award recognizes an individual Tulane employee who has demonstrated support and commitment to building equitable relationships amongst Tulane local, regional, and global communities; promoted EDI excellence in research, teaching, and service; or building a campus climate where all can succeed.
Edson Cabalfin, PhD, Associate Dean of EDI and Associate Professor, School of Architecture
Strategy for Tomorrow – Bolster Award (Unit/Group Award)
This award recognizes a Tulane unit or group who has demonstrated support and commitment to building equitable relationships amongst Tulane local, regional, and global communities; promoted EDI excellence in research, teaching, and service; or building a campus climate where all can succeed.
Campus Recreation, Student Affairs
The Pacesetter Award (Department/Unit Award)
This award recognizes an academic department/unit that collectively has woven equity, diversity, and inclusion into the fabric of their unit via policies and practices, professional development opportunities and engagement, programming, and new initiatives.
John Lewis Program in Public Administration, School of Professional Advancement
Community Award
EDI Innovation Award (Community Organization)
This award acknowledges and celebrates exemplary community leaders and/or organizations whose innovation in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in the greater New Orleans community has made high impacts for today and showing promise for continuous growth.
Ashé Cultural Arts Center, Carol Bebelle, Founding Executive Director
