Outstanding Women of Color Award nomination due April 18

The Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity is accepting nominations for the 2011-2012 UW–Madison’s Outstanding Women of Color Awards. The deadline for nominations is Wednesday, April 18.

The UW–Madison Outstanding Women of Color Awards recognize members of the faculty, staff in the classified or academic (instructional or non-instructional) systems, UW–Madison students (undergraduate, graduate or post-baccalaureate students in the professional schools), and women of color in the greater Madison community, who have made outstanding contributions in one or more of the following areas:

• Social justice, activism and advocacy on behalf of disadvantaged, marginalized populations;
• Community service;
• Scholarly research, writing, speaking and/or teaching on race, ethnicity and indigeneity in U.S. society; and
• Community building on- or off-campus for an inclusive and respectful environment.

Here’s how to prepare a nomination packet, which should include:

• A letter of nomination;
• Two additional letters of support from the nominee’s colleagues (student, staff, faculty and/or community member);
• The nominee’s updated curriculum vitae.

Send the nomination packet in print or electronic format (preferred) by Monday, April 18, to Jane Dymond, executive assistant to the vice provost for diversity and climate, 109 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Dr., Madison WI 53706, jdymond@provost.wisc.edu.

The UW System award

From this year’s awardees, the selection committee will nominate one Outstanding Woman of Color as the UW–Madison recipient of the UW System Outstanding Woman of Color in Education Award.  This recipient will be a woman of color who has:

• 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.
• Advocated for women, particularly women of color.
• Consistently demonstrated the ability to rally diverse forces together to advance the agenda of women, particularly that of women of color.
• Created positive changes at the institutional level, i.e., curriculum development and infusion, receiving grants, and mentoring women; and
• Demonstrated an understanding of the interplay of family and community and culture in the lives of women of color.

The names of the 2011-12 Outstanding Women of Color will be announced by May 1.