February 16, 2007

Awards recognize achievements in diversity, community

By Julia Ann Easley

One of the nation's leading civil rights advocates, a personnel manager who strives for diversity in the recruitment of library employees and the founder of a lecture series on multicultural children's literature were among six honored with this year's Chancellor's Achievement Awards for Diversity and Community.

Recognized for their contributions to the development and well-being of a diverse community were Cruz Reynoso of the School of Law, Joanne Galli-Banducci of the School of Education, Leslie Young of the General Library, medical student Patricia Molina, and Sacramento couple Derrell and Tina Roberts. A reception was held at the chancellor's residence Feb. 1.

Academic Senate achievement award — Law professor Cruz Reynoso, the first Latino to sit on the California Supreme Court, has had a long and distinguished legal career in the public interest. He is one of the leading civil rights advocates of his generation and an icon in the Latino community. Reynoso has served as vice chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and he has was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

He is the first to hold the School of Law's Boochever and Bird Chair for the Study and Teaching of Freedom and Equality. Since joining the faculty in 2001, Reynoso has been a frequent participant in campus and community events concerned with civil rights and the Chicano/Latino community, and he serves as an adviser to the La Raza Law Students Association.

Academic Federation award — Joanne Galli-Banducci, a lecturer and supervisor of teacher education in the School of Education, is founder and chair of its annual multicultural children's literature lecture series, titled "Words Take Wing — Honoring Diversity in Children's Literature."

She developed the series to enable not only student teachers but also the wider community — especially teachers and students — to hear from authors who create and explore worlds of diverse cultures. Speakers have included Pam Munoz Ryan and Laurence Yep.

Staff award — Leslie Young, manager of the General Library personnel office, works to ensure that hiring practices include consideration of diverse job candidates, and she has helped to coordinate numerous educational programs promoting diversity.

Young, who joined the library in 2002 after 20 years with the School of Medicine, served as co-chair of the General Library committee on diversity for three years and continues as an ex-officio member.

Graduate student award — Medical student Patricia Molina has worked to increase minority enrollment, served the local Latino population and advocated on health issues. She is the co-director of Clinica Tepati, UC Davis' free student-run health clinic that serves Latinos in Sacramento.

Community award — For two decades, Derrell and Tina Roberts have guided leading community organizations in Sacramento, including St. Hope Academy, Healthy Start, the Salvation Army Oak Park Community Center and the Birthing Project Clinic. In 2001, they created the Roberts Family Development Center, which serves about 110 families in an ethnically diverse and economically disadvantaged area of North Sacramento.