No Reason Provided

Jonika and her colleagues have worked to develop and strengthen the Cincinnati Public Schools partnership, which will be critical in expanding partnerships and opportunities to students in underserved communities

Bill has served the university through his work on institutional research by creating reports on DEI data.

Amit and Brad coordinated efforts to provide personal protective equipment out of recycled materials and craft metal door-opening devices to aid in a safe return to campus

Supplying Dining Services and Talawanda Oxford pantry with fresh produce to combat food insecurity in our region

Has developed a myriad of career services opportunities with a focus on DEI

No Reason Provided

No Reason Provided

Dr. Stephanie Danker, Associate Professor of Art Education, for a project that she, senior art education major Jasmine Floyd, and their colleagues on the College of Creative Arts (CCA) Social Justice Task Force created to celebrate freedom summer ‘64. This project not only aligns well with our Freedom Summer ‘64 award, but also exemplifies the type of experiences we want to create and maintain here at Miami to make our community members more culturally conscious.

At various times throughout the year, SOULs play an extremely important role serving as ambassadors to welcome first year, transfer, and international students to campus. They work tirelessly to assist families throughout Orientation and lead student groups during Welcome Weekend. Their commitment to diversity is demonstrated in their acceptance of others and a desire to create an atmosphere of positive engagement. 

The Myaamia Center is a Miami Tribe of Oklahoma initiative located within an academic setting. The Center serves the needs of the Myaamia people, Miami University, and partner communities through research, education, and outreach that promote Myaamia language, culture, knowledge, and values.

The Western College Alumnae Association came into existence in 1974, and in 2019, celebrated its 45th anniversary, with membership numbering nearly 3,600 throughout the United States and the world. Their mission is two-fold: to preserve communication within the Western family and to support education and human values.

Army veteran, First Sergeant James P. Smith is the regional coordinator of veteran services at the Miami regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown. J.P. leads Miami’s efforts to do all that it can to embrace America’s military service members. J.P. has worked to ensure that veteran services provides the best possible support for student veterans and that it does all that it can to prepare students for their post military roles in society. Miami is proud of J.P.’s efforts, which have fueled Miami’s rank among the top 15 percent of national colleges, universities, and trade schools that do the most to embrace military service members, veterans, and dependents as students.

The Office of Residence Life is committed to collaborating with students, parents, and university partners to assist students in successful adjustment to, and transition through, their collegiate experience. They work to develop communities that are inclusive and safe. Moreover, the entire staff works tirelessly to create opportunities that allow students to ease into adulthood while pursuing their academic goals and using their knowledge and skills with integrity and compassion to improve the future of our global society.

As senior assistant director for the Student Success Center, Ashley coordinates the efforts of the Miami Cares food pantry, which assists students with limited resources, and coordinates and supervises the Peer Advocate and Student Success Mentor program. This program, which pairs international students with domestic students, fosters opportunities for meaningful interaction and support to a residence hall quad.

Kate is an associate professor of Educational Leadership, specializing in the history of education, the Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies program, and the Myaamia Center. In her work with the Myaamia Center, Kate has sponsored Heritage courses for tribal students and assisted with research initiatives. In her work as a department chair and mayor of the City of Oxford, her service to Miami and the community has been outstanding. Kate also received the Benjamin Harrison Medallion Award in 2016 for her commitment to teaching, research, and service.

Colonel Clark Kelly is the senior director of External Relations and Communication for the College of Engineering and Computing. Not only has Clark increased the visibility of the College regionally, nationally, and internationally through his innovative use of social media, but he continuously advocates for underrepresented populations in the STEM field.

This student organization helps to coodinate community service and to sponsor annual Black History Month events on campus. They also help to promote diverse events throughout the year and look for opportunities for collaboration amongst all student organizations on campus.

As manager of the Milwaukee Bucks, Wayne Embry was the first African American General Manager in the NBA. He opened doors in management, coaching, and playing staffs for African Americans.

Author of the autobiography, "The Inside Game: Race, Power, and Politics in the NBA," Wayne has been both a community activist and mentor for youth in every city and community in which he has lived.

Wayne served on Miami's Board of Trustees for 14 years, including one year as Chair. He has also served on the College of Education, Health, and Society's Advisory Board, the Love and Honor Campaign Steering Committee, and Miami's Foundation Board.

By his words and accomplishments, Wayne has been a powerful ally for change and equality in sport and life.

Miami Hockey has been committed to the "You Can Play" Initiative since its beginning, when Brendan Burke, a Miami student who served as a manager for the hockey team, came out as openly gay during his time as a RedHawk. Though he was met with nothing but acceptance and support from the rest of the team, his life was cut short during the 2009-10 season, when he passed away in a tragic automobile accident. His death shook the team, but it also motivated them to share his story of bravery and strength. The "You Can Play" motto—"If you can play, you can play"—encourages people to judge athletes only by their talent, character, and work ethic.

One of the most diverse divisions on campus, IT Services enjoys a robust culture of inclusivity. In service of Miami's strategic initiatives and their own divisional goals, the IT Services Diversity Committee hosts various events throughout the year to celebrate other cultures, including an annual film festival designed to fuel conversation about diversity and its important role at Miami. Green Zone Training, a presentation on ways to support student vets, was also recently developed and is being rolled out for instruction to other groups on campus.

Professor of Global Studies and Sociology, Dr. Coates believes that teaching, research, and service are mutually reinforcing, dynamically interacting, and synergistically intertwined. He challenges students to be active agents within this process, and his role is that of a facilitator and guide.

Dr. Coates manages the summer academic boot camp for first-year student athletes and is one of the factors in the climbing g.p.a.'s of students athletes on campus.

He also coordinates the Penny Lecture Series—a course that includes weekly lectures crossing fields of study. Ranging from sociology, global and intercultural studies, social movements, and black world studies, and delivered by faculty, staff, or invited scholars or leading practitioners, the lectures are designed to expose students to a wide spectrum of philosophies and world views and expand their understanding of diversity and support for inclusion.

Dr. Coates was instrumental in the development of the Miami University and Cincinnati Public School collaboration, and over the last couple of years, has turned his photography hobby into a way to help students. Working with Miami’s Advancement team, sales of his exclusive digital photos have generated more than $25,000 for Miami’s Hope Scholarship. The funds go toward students of underrepresented populations.

The GRN is an interdisciplinary community that exposes students to a variety of career and volunteer opportunities in government and public service. In conjunction with the Office of Institutional Relations, the GRN has a Living Learning Community comprised of approximately 50 students who live in the only combined first- and second-year living learning community on campus. These residents complete an eight-week sprint course teaching them basic principles of advocacy, leadership, civic engagement, and inclusive excellence. Students of all majors participate in meaningful and immediate involvement with the University and in local, state, and federal government. GRN students regularly serve as University advocates traveling to the Ohio Statehouse and Capitol Hill, hosting elected officials on campus and participating in local district higher education programs.

Recent University events that GRN students have assisted with include the Freedom Summer of '64 Award ceremony in Washington D.C., the Propel Ohio: Collegiate Leadership Summit in Cleveland, Ohio, and President Greg Crawford's "Boldly Creative" presentations on the impact of Miami University on Ohio's economy and workforce development in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo.

Andy Zeisler began his career coordinating services for students with disabilities at Miami in November of 1988. He has been Director of Disability Services since 1994, and he oversees a committed and talented staff of professionals who coordinate reasonable accommodations, support services, and resources to ensure equal access to education and university life for students with disabilities.

Andy graduated from Miami with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1988, earned his master's degree in Educational Psychology from Miami in 2000, and has served on the 1809 LGBT Alumni Board of Trustees through the Alumni Association since 2004.

Andy is also a member of the Accessible Technology Committee, working to create a more accessible environment at Miami University. He also organizes the Accessible Technology Symposium. This annual symposium is designed to discuss current issues and trends in accessible technology, and provide information about universal design and building accessible content for classroom and marketing materials.

Curator of Exhibitions Jason Shaiman and the Miami Art Museum brought to campus and the nation the first of its kind exhibit, Telling a People's Story, that highlighted the accomplishments of authors and illustrators of children's books that focused on civil rights. The project celebrates the complex and diverse African-American experience through a lens intended for children and young readers. The wide range of selections provided a broad view of the African American community that is seldom seen or explored.

In conjunction with the exhibit (which will now travel around the nation) a conference was held in April, 2018. Illustrators, scholars, librarians, and educators presented and discussed diverse aspects of contextualizing African-American children’s picture books.

Patti Liberatore, director of Miami University's Performing Arts Series and the College of Creative Arts Assistant Dean for External Relations, brings people together through the arts. For the last two years through the Presidential Series on Inclusivity, the Performing Arts Series has provided a wide range of artists and offered the campus an opportunity to experience the art and culture of a wide sector of America and the world. With productions including Dear World, the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles in It Gets Better, The New Golden Age of Latin Music, the LA Theatre Works' The Mountaintop, and Laverne Cox's Ain't I a Woman: My Journey to Womanhood, the Performing Arts Series continues to provide audiences with a view of the richness of others and the power of diversity and inclusion.

Courtney is currently a senior at Miami University majoring in AYA Integrated English Language Arts Education and minoring in Political Science. Courtney currently serves as Associated Student Government's (ASG) Secretary for Diversity and Inclusion and works directly with the Office of Residence Life's Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the Community on Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and Student Life Council. Last semester, their committee was able to successfully pass legislation on the floor detailing ASG's first-ever inclusion plan for the 2018-2019 academic year.

Courtney also had the opportunity to serve a term as the Diversity Affairs Council (DAC) president. Last summer, Courtney was also able to take classes and intern at St. Mary Magdalene's Academy in London, England, through Miami's Study Abroad program.