The Blenda J. Wilson Diversity in Education Award
In her six years at California State University, Northridge, Dr. Blenda Wilson was a tireless advocate both for the university and for making it a place where an increasingly diverse student body feels at home. As a woman of color, she brought perspectives that enhanced the community’s thinking on all matters, including those involving gender, race, and ethnicity.
As a living tribute to the unique ideas and contributions that she brought to our campus, the Dean and faculty of the College of Education inaugurated this award as a symbol of her work amongst us. The award is presented each spring to a full-time faculty member from the College of Education who is making, or who has made, a significant impact on the education of students in the college through one or more of the following:
- brought faculty and students together for dialogue about multicultural or gender issues;
- engaged in curriculum development that led to the inclusion of topics and materials on gender and/or cultural or ethnic minorities;
- enhanced awareness of multicultural and gender issues through a faculty development activity;
- participated in the recruitment and/or retention activities that diversified the student body;
- engaged in classroom activities and pedagogy that increased students’ understanding of the social construction of gender and ethnicity in our society;
- initiated research that advances our thinking about gender, ethnicity, and social class.
The recipient of this award will receive recognition on the stage at the Michael D. Eisner College of Education Commencement Ceremony and a personally engraved plaque commemorating this honor.
Review of nominations and applications will examine the faculty member’s contributions according to the following criteria:
Significance:
The contribution of the faculty member is truly unique and/or powerful. For example:
- the faculty member has developed a series of activities used in a course that s/he teaches and that have been shown to have had a tremendous influence on students’ thinking about issues of diversity in education.
Extensive:
The contribution of the faculty member has influenced many students. For example:
- the work of the faculty member has reached a great number of students through implementation within several sections of a course or within a program.
Durability:
The contribution of the faculty member has a duration beyond the immediate time frame in which the contribution was initially made. For example:
- the work of the faculty member has influenced policy related to student recruitment, or
- the work of the faculty member has been incorporated into course outline(s) and so has become a permanent feature of a course or courses
Evidence:
There exists ample/sufficient/significant evidence of the direct impact of the faculty member’s contributions to students in the College of Education. For example:
- Documentation is offered of the increase in minority populations seeking credentials or graduate degrees as a result of recruitment efforts developed by the faculty member.
Recognized:
The work of the faculty member has been recognized by professionals outside of the College of Education. For example:
- the faculty member has published about the contributions made to students in the College of Education.
To apply or nominate an individual,
please submit these items together:
- a narrative (500-800 words) describing the nominee’s contributions and impacts in one or more of the areas identified above.
- a Letter of Support that can substantiate the nomination from someone other than the nominator.
The Equity and Faculty Affairs Committee representing all departments in the College of Education will make the selection.
Application Deadline TBA
Past Winners
- 2014 - Carrie Rothstein-Fisch
- 2013 - Gregory Jackson
- 2012 – Greg Knotts
- 2011 – William de la Torre
- 2010 – Michael Laurent