The purpose of the Regents Diversity Awards is to recognize institutional change agents who have established a successful record in fostering greater access and success for students who are members of historically underrepresented populations (including African Americans, Native Americans, Latinos/Hispanics, Asian Americans, and Southeast Asians), first-generation, and/or economically disadvantaged. Established by the Board of Regents during Plan 2008, the award signifies the Board’s commitment to “…achieving educational diversity at all UW System institutions… in order to fully develop advanced human potential, the jobs that employ that potential, and the flourishing of communities that sustain it,” (UW Board of Regents Resolution # 8970).
Up to three awards of $7,500 each will be made to individuals, departments, programs, units and/or teams in recognition of their exceptional efforts in fostering greater equity and diversity across their institutions and communities. The funds for these awards are designated to support individualized professional development or continuing programmatic activities.
2025 Regents Diversity Awards Nominations
The submission deadline has passed.
Recent Diversity Award Recipients
2024
The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents to honor the 2024 recipients of the Regents Diversity Awards at its meeting on February 9, 2024 at UW-Madison.
The 2024 recipients include one individual and two teams:
- Christine Smith, Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, UW-Green Bay
- Provost Glendalí Rodríguez, Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, UW-Stout
- Campus Garden Program, UW-Whitewater
News release: UW Board of Regents announces 2024 Diversity Awards: Educators at UW-Green Bay, UW-Stout, and UW-Whitewater recognized for work to support student success
Dr. Christine SmithProfessor of Psychology, Department of Psychology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, UW-Green Bay
Provost Glendali RodriguezVice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, UW-Stout
Campus Garden ProgramUW-Whitewater
2023
The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents honored the 2023 recipients of the Regents Diversity Awards at its meeting on February 10, 2023 at UW-Madison.
The 2023 recipients include one individual and two teams:
- Rickie-Ann Legleitner, Interim Executive Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, UW-Stout
- Lori Kido Lopez, Professor of Communication Arts and Director of Asian American Studies Program, UW-Madison
- Upward Bound Program, UW-River Falls
News release: UW System Board of Regents announces 2023 Diversity Awards
Dr. Rickie-Ann LegleitnerInterim Executive Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, UW-Stout
Dr. Lori Kido LopezProfessor of Communication Arts and Director of Asian American Studies Program, UW-Madison
Upward Bound ProgramUW-River Falls
2022
The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents will honor the 2021 recipients of the Regents Diversity Awards at its meeting on February 11, 2022 at UW-Madison.
The 2022 recipients include two individuals and one team:
- Dr. Rose-Marie Avin, Professor of Economics and Director of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program, UW-Eau Claire
- Barbara Stewart, Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion, UW-La Crosse
- Pioneers Helping Pioneers Emergency Grant Program, UW-Platteville
News release: UW System Board of Regents announces 2022 Diversity Awards
Dr. Rose-Marie Avin Professor of Economics and Director of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program, UW-Eau Claire
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Barbara StewartVice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion, UW-La Crosse
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Pioneers Helping Pioneers Emergency Grant ProgramUW-Platteville
Executive Director Laura Franklin to accept the award on the program’s behalf
2021
The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents will honor the 2021 recipients of the Regents Diversity Awards at its meeting on February 5, 2021, at UW-Madison.
The 2021 recipients include one individual and two programs:
- Dr. Selika Ducksworth-Lawton, Professor of History, UW-Eau Claire
- Counseling Services, UW-Eau Claire
- Wisconsin Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (WiscAMP), UW-Madison
News release: UW System Board of Regents announces 2021 Diversity Awards
Selika Ducksworth-LawtonProfessor of History, UW-Eau Claire
Counseling ServicesUW-Eau Claire
Wisconsin Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (WiscAMP)UW-Madison
2020
The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents honored the 2020 recipients of the Regents Diversity Awards at its meeting on February 7, 2020, at UW-Madison.
The 2020 recipients include two individuals and one institution/unit:
- Arijit Sen, Associate Professor of Architecture and Urban Studies, UW-Milwaukee
- Fostering Success, UW-Stout
- Department of Chemistry, UW-Madison
News release: UW System Board of Regents announces 2020 Diversity Awards
Read the news summary from February 7, 2020
Arijit SenAssociate Professor of Architecture and Urban Studies, UW-Milwaukee
Fostering SuccessUW-Stout
Pictured: (from left) UW-Stout’s Director of Student Support Services Angela Ruppe and Fostering Success program advisor Gail Mentzel
Department of ChemistryUW-Madison
Pictured: Members of the Department of Chemistry Climate and Diversity Committee including: Front row, from left: Desiree Bates, Robert Hamers, Judith Burstyn, Karen Stephens, Kristi Heming, AJ Boydston, and Heike Hofstetter. Back row, from left: Wesley B Swords, Zachary Jones, Silvia Cavagnero, Sam Wood, Matthew Sanders, and Cheri Barta. Not pictured: Andrew Greenberg (Photo by Tatum Lyles Flick/UW-Madison)