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On Thursday, April 27, the presented the 2017 Equity and Excellence Award to seven peopleÌýat the 32ndÌýEquity andÌýExcellence Celebration held in the Koenig Alumni Center.

The Equity and Excellence (E&E) AwardÌýrecognizes undergraduate and graduate students, staff and faculty who have worked to promote the principles of diversity and inclusive excellence in teaching, learning, higher education program management, or leadership practices and execution.Ìý

Awardees are nominatedÌýby fellow campus community members for the annual award. This year, two undergraduate students, two graduate students, one faculty member and two staff members were honored.

Undergraduate awards

Ayla Sullivan
Sullivan is the communications coordinator at the Gender and Sexuality Center and was nominated by Scarlet Bowen, Samuel Flaxman and Akirah Bradley.

Bowen noted in the nomination packet, "Ayla quickly took on a much wider role [at the Gender and Sexuality Center]Ìýin providing advocacy, educationÌýand support for underrepresented people on campus . . . Ayla has advised the chancellor about the experiences of queer and transgender people of color, and they gave powerful testimony at the forum for assessing campus climate."

Toby Bollig
Bollig is majoring in physics and philosophy while minoring in jewish studies and was nominated by Floyd Pierce, Mike Roseberry and Core Priebe, who all mentioned his commitment to providing more accessibility on campus.

"Since his freshman year, Toby has been a member of the Chancellor's Accessibility Committee,"Ìýsaid Pierce in his nomination for Bollig. "Toby put together information about accessibility requirements under Title IX and the ADA as well as additional accessibility guidelines for ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä student groups."

Graduate awards

Urooj Raja
Raja was nominated by Vanessa Roberts, Glenda Walden and Tiya Trent. A graduate student in the Sociology Department, Raja also mentors for , where she works with 185 undergraduate studentsÌýto overcome class and social barriers in pursuing higher education.

Cecilia Valenzuela
Valenzuela is a graduate research assistant and PhD candidate in the School of Education'sÌýLiteracy Studies program.ÌýAll of her nominees mentioned her commitment to recruiting students of color, especially those interested in becoming teachers.

Bridget Dalton noted in Valenzuela’s nomination, "One course she teaches is emblematic of her passion for, and commitment to, developing critical pedagogies that are more likely to make schools more just and equitable for all students, and especially those from non-dominant communities."

Faculty award

Anja Lange
Lange is a senior instructor in the College of Engineering and Applied Science's Herbst Program of Humanities. She was nominated by Paige Johnson, Leland Giovannelli and Abdullah Almarri.

"Dr. Anja Lange lives and breathes multiculturalism. She embraces all races, religions, gendersÌýand cultures,"ÌýLeland Giocannelli’s nomination form said. "She contributes to diversity enhancement and inclusive excellence on a daily basis."

Staff awards

Barbara Marshall
Marshall, the assistant director of scholarships in the Office of Financial Aid,Ìýwas nominated by Susan Youtz, David Martinez and David Aragon, who said in the nomination that Marshall has helped foster a "departmental commitment to inclusive excellence."

Beverly Louie
Louie is the director of teaching and learning initiatives at theÌý in the College of Engineering and Applied Science. Her nomination, submitted by Lauren Duff, Sarah Miller, Amanda Parker and David Aragon, described Louie as a "champion"Ìýfor diversity and inclusion.

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Professor Emeritus Albert Ramirez began the Equity andÌýExcellence Celebration in 1985 as a way to recognize those who have made significant contributions to diversity and inclusion at the University of Colorado Boulder.

ODECE seeks nominations for the Equity andÌýExcellence Award to recognize undergraduate and graduate students, staff and faculty each year.ÌýFor more information, visit the ODECE website.