Broncos recognized for commitment to diversity, inclusion with 2024 Excellence in Diversity Award
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University will honor the recipients of the 2024 Excellence in Diversity Award at the Fall Awards Celebration, scheduled for Friday, Oct. 11. Recognized as a meaningful acknowledgment, the award highlights the tireless efforts of individuals, departments and groups across campus who are dedicated to fostering a culture of equity and inclusion. Though only a select few are recognized each year, this award symbolizes a collective appreciation for those who persevere in creating an environment where everyone is seen, heard and valued.
This year’s recipients are Dr. Cynthia Klekar Cunningham, director of the School of Communication, members of the College of Health and Human Services Department of Information Technology and its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
“The Excellence in Diversity Award is an opportunity to recognize and show appreciation for individuals, groups or programs on campus who have taken up the mantle of fostering inclusivity and equity on our campus. It is my hope that this award is no longer needed because inclusion and equity will have become part of the ethos of WMU,” says Dr. Candy McCorkle, vice president for diversity and inclusion.
Excellence in Diversity Award Recipients
Dr. Cynthia Klekar Cunningham
As director of the School of Communication, a scholar and a teacher, Cunningham is committed to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and multiculturalism at Western through her persistent, day-to-day practices including:
- Diversity, inclusion and equity training for faculty and staff the past four years.
- Prioritizing the development of inclusive hiring practices at the school.
- Recruiting and retaining diverse students, especially graduate students.
- Expanded support for study abroad programs.
- Ensuring accountability to review programs, discuss challenges and develop new strategies for diversity, equity, inclusion and multiculturalism goals.
In the classroom, her classes frequently focus on themes of imperialism, race and gender, and diverse voices, contributing to a more inclusive and multicultural understanding of history and literature.
Cunningham earned her Ph.D. from West Virginia University as well as, two master’s degrees and a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
College of Health and Human Services Department of Information Technology
Joshua Enos, director of information technology for the college, noted the 10-member committee has “taken a clear and intentional approach to diversity.”
Specifically, this past spring, the group collaborated with Career and Student Employment Services in organizing a forum to discuss the benefits of diversity among student employees.
More recently, the IT department worked to eliminate a longstanding accessibility barrier for many blind and low-vision members by helping to implement software that includes zoom magnification, visual enhancement and fast screen reading functionality for free to anyone with a WMU email address.
“Their commitment to creating an inclusive campus, dismantling institutional bias and promoting diversity in hiring and workforce development make them deserving of this recognition,” Enos says.
College of Health and Human Services Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
The college’s DEI Committee includes 15 faculty and staff members who show “an exceptional commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment in the College of Health and Human Services,” says the committee’s chair, Dr. Betty Dennis, master faculty specialist for the Center for Healthcare Services and Sciences. “Through our committee's leadership, we are ensuring that the college’s faculty, staff and student voices are heard and valued.”
Its Lunch and Learn series, accessing loan forgiveness and repayment programs for students, student climate survey for the college, biennial DEI conference and community outreach events are some of the many focus areas of the groups’ six subcommittees.
“All of our efforts are intended to play a pivotal role in addressing systemic barriers and promoting equal opportunities for our faculty, staff and students,” says Dennis.
Fall Awards Celebration
In addition to the Excellence in Diversity Award, other prestigious awards will be presented at the Fall Awards Celebration including the Distinguished Faculty Scholar, Distinguished Service, Distinguished Teaching, Emerging Scholar and annual Make a Difference awards. The event begins at 11 a.m. in Kirsch Auditorium of the Fetzer Center.
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