IRC Annual Awards
Each year, the IRC recognizes and celebrates the achievements of members of the ASU community through a number of awards. Breaking from tradition, these awards are named for still-living people--acknowledging that the achievements recognized and works in progress are current, alive and vibrant! Nominations, selection and presentation occur during the late spring, for that academic year. Recipients receive a small award to keep, and their names are added to the perpetual plaques in the Center.
The 2007- 08 IRC Award Ceremony was held on
Monday, April 14 at the asu art museum
from 3:00 to 4:30 pm.
Dondrell Swanson "Advocates for Social Justice " Award
While at ASU as both student and staff, Dondrell Swanson demonstrated through his actions a strong commitment to social justice and equality. The Dondrell Swanson Advocates of Social Justice Award is given annually to a member of the ASU community who is a catalyst for change and who advocates for social justice.
2007-2008 Recipients
Dr. Christine Marin (Chicano Research Collection)
Dr. Madelaine Adelman (School of Justice and Social Inquiry)
Erin S. Murphy "Intergroup Relations Service " Award
The work of promoting positive intergroup relations at ASU is challenging and endless. Erin S. Murphy was an ASU staff member who repeatedly volunteered to undertake intergroup relations service. The Erin S. Murphy Intergroup Relations Service Award is given annually to a member of the ASU community who has consistently volunteered numerous hours toward eliminating prejudice and discrimination against many groups.
2007-2008 Recipients
Charlene Shovic (Barrett, The Honors College)
Kimberley Novak (Student and Campus Community Development)
Alexander Astin "Spirituality in Higher Education " Award
The work of promoting positive intergroup relations on a college campus entails healing the emotional pain and conflict that exists between groups that have been hurt by acts of violence, prejudice and discrimination. In order for healing to take place, powerful spiritual moments have to be created involving growth, understanding, forgiveness and action. This award is named after Alexander Astin, the Allan Murray Carter Professor of Higher Education and Work at UCLA, for his efforts to conceptualize, acknowledge and recognize the role that spirituality plays in unfolding and enriching the lives of faculty, staff and students. This award is given annually to a member of the ASU community for creating spiritual moments that lead to greater growth, understanding and action around issues of diversity.
2006-2007 Recipient
Fr. Fred Lucci, OP (All Saints Catholic Newman Center)
Kelly Maxwell "Outstanding Graduate Student " Award
ASU graduate students have made and continue to make tremendous contributions to the success of the Intergroup Relations Center in the areas of intergroup interaction, training, education, and research. Kelly Maxwell, the IRC's first graduate assistant and Coordinator of the Voices of Discovery Intergroup Dialogue Program, successfully recruited large numbers of graduate students from many disciplines and got them involved in the IRC. Thus, we honor her with this award which is given annually to an outstanding Arizona State University graduate student who makes contributions to the work of the Intergroup Relations Center and the enhancement of intergroup understanding..
2007-2008 Recipient
Tobie Milford (School of Life Sciences Biology and Society)
Sydella Blatch (School of Life Sciences)
Monalee Ewing "Naming and Claiming Women's Space " Award
One of the roles of the IRC involves examining and celebrating women's diverse lives along many social dimensions, their interconnectedness, and their relation to the broader issues of sexism, oppression, and discrimination.We name and honor those women who came before us as allies, inspiring us to take risk, and to undertake collective action in naming and claiming women's space for the respect, dignity, and worth of all women.This award is named in honor of one of these women, Monalee Ewing, who is an inspirational leader, ally, risk-taker, mother, and womentor.
This award recognizes and thanks those individuals or groups who inspire and move us to name and claim women's space and, to create change that will further the collective action and status of all women in our diverse ASU and global communities..
2007-2008 Recipients
Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Dena Hester (Wellness and Heath Promotion)
Dr. Alesha Durfee (Women and Gender Studies)
Student Against Discrimination "Organizational Action" Award
Positive change is the work of both visionary individuals and committed groups. The diverse students who formed Students Against Discrimination ("SAD")demonstrated the power of collective action in creating the Intergroup Relations Center in 1996. The Students Against Discrimination Organizational Action Award is given annually to a campus office or organization that has contributed consistently and significantly to improving intergroup relations at ASU. From attending to its own diversity, to supporting justice and community across campus, the honoree has challenged itself and others as an example of positive strength in numbers.
2007-2008 Recipient
Cecilia Saenz (University College)
Patricia Gurin "Scholar-Activist " Award
The work of Dr. Patricia Gurin, social psychologist at University of Michigan and lead expert witness in defense of Affirmative Action in the landmark Supreme Court cases of the summer of 2003, is exemplary of a lifetime of commitment to intergroup relations through research, scholarship, practice and advocacy. Dr. Gurin's personal and professional track record of disseminating and applying research findings on the benefits of structured interaction in intergroup relations is a model for the New American University integrating research, teaching, policy, and practice. Through her innovative think-tanking, respect for academic and student affairs as mutually supportive entities on college campuses, and her mentoring of younger scholars and students, Dr. Gurin serves as an inspirational role model as a faculty ally in intergroup relations. The Award is given annually to a faculty member who has consistently and significantly demonstrated a commitment to and action on scholar-activism in intergroup relations..
2007-2008 Recipients
Dr. Carol Muller (New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences Faculty: Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences)
Dr. William Simmons (New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences Faculty: Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences)
Jesus Treviño Book Award
Dr. Jesùs Treviño was the founding director of the Intergroup Relations Centers, after serving ASU as the Assistant Dean of Student Life for Cultural Diversity. Among the seeds he planted for the ASU community are the Voices of Discovery program, the "Not in Our House" campaign, and the IRC itself. Fundamental to the Center was Dr. Treviño's commitment to and advocacy for the learning, welfare, and equity for all students. As he left ASU in Fall 2002 to begin intergroup relations initiatives in yet another educational community, a student book award was inaugurated in his honor. The Award is given annually to a first-year, undergraduate student whose interest and commitment to positive intergroup relations is consistently demonstrated by personal, educational, and social action.
2007-2008 Recipient
Vicky Chung (School of Justice and Social Inquiry)
