Outstanding Women of Color in Education Awards

The UW System Outstanding Women of Color in Education Awards honor the contributions women of color have made to the UW System, and in particular, to diversity and women’s studies.  The awards and recognition ceremony was initiated in 1994 to acknowledge the ties and shared concerns among administrators, faculty, staff, and students within women’s studies and ethnic studies, and to uphold a continuing commitment to Plan 2008: Educational Quality through Racial and Ethnic Diversity (work that continues through Inclusive Excellence efforts across the UW System). 

Recipients are formally recognized at an awards ceremony and luncheon, held in conjunction with the annual Wisconsin Women’s Studies and UW System LGBTQ Conferences.

Any woman of color who is a UW System faculty, staff, student or active community member and fits the following criteria is eligible for this award:

• Women of color who have worked in the areas of women’s studies scholarship and activism, especially as they have served to improve the status and climate for women, particularly women of color.
• Women of color who have advocated for women, particularly women of color.
• Women of color who have consistently demonstrated their ability to rally diverse forces together to advance the agenda of women, particularly that of women of color.
• Women of color who have created positive changes at your institutional level (i.e. curriculum development and infusion, receiving grants, and mentoring women).
• Women of color who have demonstrated an understanding of the interplay of family and community and culture in the lives of women of color.

The selection process for the Outstanding Women of Color in Education Awards is:

• The selection is entirely campus-based: Chancellors- in consultation with the campus Multicultural/Disadvantaged Coordinator, Women’s Studies Administrator, campus contact for the Status of Women, and Affirmative Action Officer- will select one woman of color from their institution who has made outstanding contributions to the UW System (diversity and women’s studies scholarship and activism).
• The Chancellor’s Office will notify the selected honoree. The Conference Planning Committee will communicate with honoree about the details of the ceremony, reception, and conference.
• After selection is completed, UW System institutions should submit the following items to the Women’s Studies Consortium Office at wscoffice@uwsa.edu:
  • Completed honoree information form;
  • An electronic photograph suitable for display on line (72 dpi, no larger than 700 pixles on the longest side).
  • A one-page summary of honoree’s contributions to diversity and women’s studies; and

Please check with your Chancellors Office for campus nomination deadlines.  Institutions are to submit items for one award recipient electronically to the Women’s Studies Consortium Office at wscoffice@uwsa.edu.

The University of Wisconsin System Women’s Studies Consortium and the Office of Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Student Success (IDEASS) jointly support the awards ceremony and attendance at the luncheon for family and guests of the honorees, and offer an invitation to the honorees to attend the annual Wisconsin Women’s Studies and LGBTQ Conferences.  Campuses are asked to cover the cost of their honoree’s transportation to and from the conference and any necessary lodging.

The next Outstanding Women of Color in Education Awards ceremony is tentatively scheduled to be awarded at the annual Wisconsin Women’s Studies and UW System LGBTQ Conferences in April 2016.

For questions contact the Helen Klebesadel, Director, UW System Women’s Studies Consortium, 608-262-3056 or wscoffice@uwsa.edu.