INDIANAPOLIS -- The woman behind the Advancing Women Mentoring Program at IUPUI and the man known as an outspoken advocate for the campus's Women in Science House are the recipients of the 15th annual Dr. Joseph T. Taylor Excellence in Diversity Awards.
The Taylor awards honor the legacy of Joseph T. Taylor, the first dean of the School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI. The award recognizes exemplary IUPUI individuals -- or programs, policies and activities -- who have promoted diversity in areas such as curricular transformation; campus environment; and the attraction and retention of students, faculty and staff of color.
A selection committee chose Grove and Rhodes from among nine nominees for the award. The committee reviews nomination and application packages and then selects candidates to recommend to the chancellor as award recipients.
Two students and two campus administrators received diversity awards during the 46th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Dinner on Jan. 18.
Eric D. Williams, director of the University College Diversity Enrichment and Achievement Program, received the Advocate of the Dream Award at the King Celebration. The award is given by the IUPUI Black Student Union, sponsor of the annual dinner, to a faculty or staff member at IUPUI who promotes the ideals of freedom and equality presented in King's historic "I Have a Dream" speech.
Two other groups honored diversity champions during the King Dinner. The Black Faculty and Staff Council presented awards to IUPUI students Keith Watts and Hadyatoullaye "Hadya" Sow; and the Neal-Marshall Alumni Club Indianapolis Chapter presented the Neal-Marshall Distinguished Alumni Award to Vernon Williams, IUPUI assistant to the chancellor for communications.
Simon J. Rhodes
Shortly after becoming dean, Rhodes created the School of Science Diversity Council. The council has been influential in shaping the school's strategic plan, which includes increasing the number of graduating underrepresented minority students by 10 percent by 2019, the number of tenure-track female faculty by 25 percent and the number of underrepresented minority faculty by 50 percent.
"As a champion for diversity in his school, Dean Rhodes works to foster a supportive, inclusive climate for women and minorities through his advocacy and support for comprehensive mentoring ... and continues vocal advocacy for and sensitivity to diversity matters," said the selection committee's letter of recommendation.
Under Rhodes' leadership, the School of Science hosted a forum that showcased the Women in Science House, an on-campus residential living and learning community for female science students, and honored outstanding female undergraduate students.
"It's about community," Simon said. "Our School of Science philosophy is for diversity, inclusion and tolerance in the broadest sense, with the goal that the school has an optimally welcoming and functional learning and working environment."
The School of Science at IUPUI is committed to excellence in teaching, research and service in the biological, physical, behavioral and mathematical sciences. The school is dedicated to being a leading resource for interdisciplinary research and science education in support of Indiana's effort to expand and diversify its economy.