Lewis Walker Institute Awards

The Lewis Walker Award honors exemplary faculty and administrators who foster collaborations that deepen our understanding of how race and ethnic relations shape society, influence individual well-being, and impact communities through applied research and community service projects.

The Faculty Award recognizes full-time faculty who provide extraordinary service to underrepresented students and produce transdisciplinary scholarship that promotes equity and social justice in race and ethnic relations across campus and beyond.

The Don Cooney Community Services Collaborative Award honors the admirable efforts of local elected officials who are energetically and enthusiastically engaged in civic service and community-engaged activities. Candidates must be residents of Kalamazoo County and have served as elected officials previously or currently.

The Lewis Walker Institute Corporate Partner Award honors companies that promote the upliftment of underrepresented youth in STEM, juvenile justice, and community-engaged projects to promote equity in race and ethnic relations.

The distinguished Ben C. Wilson Award honors individuals whose lives have demonstrated exemplary commitment to the pivotal role of advancing the academic discourse on the culture, history, and contributions of Black Americans across the diaspora of African and African American studies through teaching, research, and scholarship.

The Exceptional Bronco Leader Award pays tribute to an individual who serves as a role model, convener, and partner for students across Western Michigan University's campus. They are the go-to resource for encouragement, nourishment, and refreshment.