Programs & Awards - Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion supports several faculty/staff programs and awards at the University of Michigan. Learn more about each of these and their impact on the University and surrounding communities.

Distinguished Diversity Leaders Award

Do you know a member of the staff or an entire work team who stands out by demonstrating extraordinary commitment to diversity at the University of Michigan? Share your story by nominating them for the Distinguished Diversity Leaders Award. The Distinguished Diversity Leaders Award recognizes staff members who work toward achieving a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive working environment. It is intended to celebrate those who embrace the value of diversity and recognize how it helps set the University apart.

Learn More

This award, made possible by the Office of the Provost and University Human Resources, celebrates progress toward creating a welcoming, supportive, and diverse environment.

Learn more about the Distinguished Diversity Leaders Award

James S. Jackson Distinguished Career Award for Diversity Scholarship

The University of Michigan’s commitment to diversity and excellence is rooted in its history. Founded as a public institution to address the needs of society, the University has long supported faculty in undertaking research and scholarship that explores and illuminates multifaceted public concerns, educating students with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, and helping to address challenges facing local, national, and global communities. It recognizes that diverse experiences and perspectives are the foundation for new ideas and innovative solutions to complex problems.

Learn More

Acknowledging both our past contributions to diversity in many forms and the importance of continuing this work as the complexity of diversity shapes and challenges society, the University established a faculty honor, the James S. Jackson Distinguished Career Award for Diversity Scholarship. This award, given biannually, recognizes the significant contributions of a U-M faculty member to understanding diversity and addressing disparities in contemporary society.

Every other year, a senior faculty member whose research and scholarship — as well as teaching, mentoring, and public engagement — focuses on diversity is selected to receive the award and give a public lecture or performance addressing an aspect of diversity.

Learn more about the James Jackson Diversity Scholarship award

University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor

Faculty at the University of Michigan (U-M) have historically made significant contributions to excellence through their commitments to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). These contributions are made through excellence in scholarly inquiry related to DEI, inclusive teaching and mentoring, as well as impactful service and engagement that provides greater access and opportunity. The U-M Diversity & Social Transformation Professorship (UDSTP) both honors and builds upon the University’s legacy of faculty commitment to and achievement in DEI.

Learn More

The UDSTP is an honorific designation for senior faculty who have throughout their careers demonstrated a commitment to the University’s ideals of DEI through their scholarship, teaching, and/or service and engagement. Like other U-M professorships such as the Thurnau, Collegiate, and University Professorships, the University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor is reserved for only the highest level of achievement.

It is envisioned that the UDSTP will be used in two ways: 1) to acknowledge outstanding senior U-M faculty who have been judged to have made significant contributions to DEI at the University of Michigan and/or beyond, and 2) to recruit outstanding senior faculty from other institutions who have been judged to have made significant contributions to DEI at other institution(s) and/or beyond.

In addition to recognizing individual achievement in the area of DEI, the UDSTP is also designed to create a community of faculty who have a set of overlapping scholarly, pedagogical, and engagement interests that will stimulate exciting new collaborations and synergies. This will be achieved by awarding all UDSTP recipients a special Faculty Fellow status at the National Center for Institutional Diversity (NCID).

Meet the University Diversity and Social Transformation Professors

Harold R. Johnson Diversity Service Award

The Harold R. Johnson Diversity Service Award, named after Dean Emeritus of the School of Social Work, was established in 1996 to recognize faculty whose service goes above and beyond their regular duties and contributes to the development of a culturally and ethnically diverse campus community. Nominations will be accepted for all full-time tenured, tenure-track, research-track, and clinical faculty on the Ann Arbor campus (including librarians, curators, and archivists).

Learn More

Nominations can be made by faculty, staff, and students, and must include a nomination letter, which should not exceed 2,000 words. The nomination letter should explain the particular distinction that makes the nominee exceptionally qualified for this honor using one or more of the following criteria:

Public and/or academically oriented endeavors that demonstrate intellectual excellence and commitment to cultural diversity in service, teaching, scholarship, and/or creative activity
Efforts to increase diversity or improve the climate within one’s academic unit and/or the University
Efforts to use scholarly and/or creative work to enhance the success of students and faculty of diverse cultural and racial backgrounds
Willingness to serve as a mentor to students who have a commitment to diversity and social justice
Sustained effort and demonstrated outcomes to bring about equity in our community or society as a whole

The nomination letter may incorporate quotations from former and current students, peers, faculty, and communities impacted by the nominee’s work. The nominator’s letter should include information about the nominee’s service and accomplishments in the areas described above, and a copy of the nominee’s curriculum vita.

Up to five awards are made annually, which includes a $5,000 stipend for each honoree.

Please submit your nomination from the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion portal. Nominations are due on Friday, April 26, 2024. If you have questions, please contact Dana Brown at ([email protected]) or (734) 764-3982.

King-Chavez-Parks Visiting Professors Program

The King-Chavez-Parks Visiting Professors Program, funded through both the University and the State of Michigan, contributes to the intellectual diversity of the campus by providing access to guest faculty with diverse points of view and experiences. Some Visiting Professors have traditional academic scholarly backgrounds; others may be outstanding creative artists, performers or practitioners in their fields. Sponsoring departments are encouraged to include activities with local K-12 schools and other area institutions of higher education as a part of a King-Chavez-Parks visit.

Learn More

This funding is strategically dispensed in an annual cycle (October 1 to September 30), to align with our academic calendar and enhance our program’s reach and effectiveness. Given the competitive nature of our funding, resources may be depleted before the end of the cycle, hence we recommend submitting applications early. Our initiative is a stepping stone towards an inclusive academic community, enriched by the diverse experiences and wisdom of influential leader-educators.

Nominations may be made by any university faculty member and must be made in combination with matching funds and be approved by and submitted through the nominator’s department chair and dean. Nominations should be submitted at least 30 days before a funding decision is required. Complete policies and procedures can be found here.

If you have questions, please contact Dana Brown at ([email protected]) or (734) 764-3982.

To submit your event, please download and complete a copy of this form and submit it via email.