Dunn honored with national 'Giving Back' diversity award

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—WMU President John M. Dunn is one of 27 college and university presidents and chancellors around the nation being honored with the first Giving Back Award from INSIGHT into Diversity, the oldest and best known publication devoted to diversity in higher education.

According to the publication's editors, "the Giving Back Award honors presidents and chancellors of colleges and universities who go above and beyond their everyday leadership duties and "give back" to their campuses and communities." Dunn is featured with other recipients, in the April 2016 Leadership Support and Giving Back issue of magazine, which was published March 15. Additional recipients of the inaugural round of awards include the presidents of Columbia, Penn State, Purdue and Wayne State universities.

"The Giving Back Award is being given to leaders of institutions of higher education who exemplify what it truly means to 'give back' to others," says Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. "These presidents and chancellors are role models, and we honor their efforts to give back to everyone on their campuses and in their communities."

Dunn was lauded for such initiatives as establishment of the Seita Scholars Program for former foster youth, the establishment of the Office of Service Learning, broadening the University's definition of diversity and continuing to focus on building a diverse and inclusive campus, and donating the cumulative total of his salary increase each year for student scholarships.

This is the first year of the award, publisher Pearlstein notes. Other award programs through the magazine include a notable annual award—the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award, also known as the HEED Award.  Now in its fifth year, the HEED Award is the only national award that honors colleges and universities that exhibit an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion throughout their campus.  WMU has won HEED awards for the past three consecutive years.

For more information about the award and the publication, visit www.insightintodiversity.com and click on the April 2016 issue.

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