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Diversity and Inclusion Service Award

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2022 Informational Webinar Recording

Downloadable PDF of Slides Included in Webinar

Overview

The Diversity and Inclusion Service Award was established in 2006 (as the Diversity Enhancement Award) to recognize outstanding diversity accomplishments of faculty, staff, and students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS).

Nominees for the award should exemplify excellence in advancing the college's mission of promoting diversity in the college.

In 2013, separate categories were created for faculty, staff, and students; and in 2016, the service award for students was named the Randolph L. Grayson Outstanding CALS Diversity Scholar Award for graduating graduate or undergraduate students.

The award includes a letter of commendation, a plaque, and a monetary gift of $500. Faculty and staff award recipients are recognized at the college's summer picnic, while students are recognized at graduation.

Diversity & Inclusion Service Award winner Mark Reiter

Mark Reiter

Reiter, an associate professor at the Eastern Shore AREC, has gone above and beyond in his dedication to ensure diversity and inclusion at all levels.

Reiter completed training to certify as a diversity advocate for hiring committees; he has made it his goal to ensure equal footing for hiring to diversify faculty, staff, and students; He has been involved in recruiting and speaking to diverse students about agriculture,

connections between agriculture and environment, ARECs, and Virginia Tech; he actively recruits colleagues from Historically Black Colleges; Extension and applied research program serve numerous underserved communities by participating in speaking engagements and workshops.

By meeting students where they are, listening to those without voices, and championing diversity, Reiter works to create an open and inclusive environment that advances the reputation of CALS each and every day.

Picture of Mike Ellerbrock

Ellerbrock is a long-standing advocate for Diversity and Inclusion at all levels of Virginia Tech.

He regularly teaches in Virginia Tech’s Summer Academy for Non-Traditional Students; he mentors underrepresented minorities who are conducting summer undergraduate research projects, and supports Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences, or MANNRS.  

Ellerbrock consistently advocates that the most sustainable ecosystems are the most biologically diverse, including human communities, institutions, and organizations.  

Due to Ellerbrock’s involvement in Virginia Tech’s Target-of-Talent Program, Agricultural and Applied Economics was able to recruit two new diverse faculty.

By meeting students where they are, listening those without voices, and championing diversity, Ellerbrock creates an open and inclusive environment that advances the reputation of CALS every day.

Picture of Sharron Williams

Williams works hard to increase her knowledge of diversity issues as much as possible. She has actively sought to stay informed and updated through training and workshops. Most notable is her participation in Advising Matters workshops at Virginia Tech and her choice to become a Safe Zone member for LGBTQ+ Mental Health.

Williams expresses the university motto of Ut Prosim in her personal life as well. She volunteers for multiple organizations in the community, including the Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program, To Our House, and Micah’s Backpack.

The students Williams supports speak highly of her and praise her for making herself accessible to them. It is her dedication to the students of Virginia Tech that leads her to go above and beyond her prescribed duties to learn about and advocate for greater diversity and inclusion on campus and in her community.  

  • Faculty and staff nominees must be current employees in CALS.
  • Student nominees must be enrolled in a CALS undergraduate or graduate program and expected to graduate in the academic year of the award.
  • Self-nominations are encouraged.
  • Previous winners cannot apply in the same award category (faculty, staff, or student).
  • Please submit your nomination information, optional nomination statement and letter of support here.
  • Letter of nomination (from the nominee or a second party).
  • Submit your nomination or self-nomination by completing the form here. Please note you may also upload a nomination statement and/or a letter of support at this site.
  • Deadline: Students/faculty and staff nominations are due April 15 by 5 p.m., 2022.

Award recipients will have demonstrated a thorough understanding of, appreciation for, and advocacy of diversity issues.

Successful nominees will have taken a leadership role at the the university, college, unit, department, or district level to improve the quality of life and service in the academic or the broader community. They will abide by and promote Virginia Tech's Principles of Community. They will have demonstrated excellence in one or more of the following:

  1. Actively seek to increase their knowledge of current inclusion and diversity topics through attending related classes, seminars, groups, events, and so on.
  2. Provide or actively participate in opportunities to raise awareness of diversity and inclusion within the community in which they live, study, or work. Examples: Host a party or event for their group and focus on, encourage, or invite people of diverse cultures to speak about their culture and life experiences. Invite a speaker to their community to talk about issues of diversity and inclusiveness that are important to the group. Arrange to take their group to an event that includes viewpoints different from the group's.
  3. Demonstrate a commitment to equity and fairness in the treatment of all, and ensure their access to opportunities and resources. Examples:  Actively support minorities that are being stereotyped by the media. Express their support of a fellow student or coworker who is not being included in an event because he or she is perceived as being unfit in some way.
  4. Speak on behalf of diversity in their community, unit, or department in order to promote understanding of and sensitivity to diversity issues among colleagues. Examples: Start a conversation about how to reduce jokes about stereotypes in your community. Ask group members if they feel more comfortable actively speaking against a stereotype or saying nothing, but wishing they had spoken.
  5. Assist in the recruitment and retention of diverse faculty, staff, students, and volunteers.
  6. Conduct diversity research and scholarly activities that enhance the college's diversity and inclusion initiatives.
  • A committee consisting of members of the CALS Diversity Council will review the applications and make the award selections.
  • If there are no applications that demonstrate outstanding diversity accomplishments, the council reserves the right to not select a winner.

Submit your nomination or self-nomination by completing the form here. Please note you may also upload a nomination statement and/or a letter of support at this site. Deadline: Students/Faculty and staff nominations are due April 15 by 5 p.m., 2022.

  • Erin Ling
    Chair, Diversity Council
    1230 Washington St. SW
    HABB1 302F
    ejling@vt.edu
    540-231-9058
  • Karen Barnhart
    CALS Diversity Council Recording Secretary
    540-231-5659
    karend@vt.edu
  • Chevon N. Thorpe
    Assistant Dean of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity
    1350 Litton-Reaves Hall, Virginia Tech
    175 West Campus Drive
    dunnings@vt.edu
    (540) 232-8702

This webpage was last updated April 17th, 2022.

Contact

Erin Ling
Chair, Diversity Council
1230 Washington St. SW
HABB1 302F
ejling@vt.edu
540-231-9058

Vacant
Vice Chair, Diversity Council

Karen Barnhart
Recording Secretary, Diversity Council
karend@vt.edu
540-231-5659

Chevon N. Thorpe
Assistant Dean of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity
1350 Litton-Reaves Hall, Virginia Tech
175 West Campus Drive
dunnings@vt.edu
(540) 232-8702