April 20, 2007

DIVERSITY SALUTED AT AWARDS LUNCHEON

By Dave Jones

With this week's Soaring to New Heights event, UC Davis celebrated its commitment to diversity and the Principles of Community.

The multicultural celebration Tuesday in Freeborn Hall included an information fair, entertainment, an international buffet and the presentation of achievement awards.

Individual awards

Aida Calpo, a registered nurse with UC Davis Health System Patient Care Services — developed and coordinates the Trans-Cultural Linguistic Care Program, addressing the needs of non-English-speaking patients.

Moira Delgado, admissions office, School of Law — Annually organizes and administers the King Hall Outreach program, bringing in diverse undergraduate students for eight weeks each summer to help the students prepare for the law school admissions process.

Richard Hill, computing services, College of Engineering — Continues to lead the campus in developing Web site compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Also participates in a UC-wide effort on ADA compliance.

Laurie Stillman, Davis Honors Challenge — Active in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender Transgendered Intersex Speakers Bureau, as a trainer and a participant.

Mikael Villalobos, Early Academic Outreach Program — Served as the coordinator of the Diversity Trainers Program, working with a team of about a dozen trainers to put on workshops around campus.

Departmental awards

The department-team award went to seven people who implemented the MSOs for the Future Program, designed to train a future corps of management services officers. The team: Carina Celesia Moore, Staff Development and Professional Services; Paula Driver Shimada, Staff Work-Life; Lucy Bunch, College of Letters and Science; Connie Melendy, Academic Personnel; Sylva Reyes (retired), Office of Staff Affirmative Action and Diversity; Terry Davison (retired), Veterinary Medicine, Population, Health and Reproduction; and Marion Randall, Office of Administration.

The Deanna Falge Award, recognizing five or more years of dedication to UC Davis diversity, was presented posthumously to Shelley Booth of Undergraduate Admissions. Booth, who died last July, served for many years on the Staff Affirmative Action and Diversity Advisory Committee, participated in the Hispanic Staff Association and was a member of the Re-entry Resource Network.

The celebration included the presentation of two Eleanor Fontes Fulton Awards, for career achievement in the promotion of diversity and inclusivity:

• John Dixon (retired), Academic Personnel — Chair of the first lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender committee. During his time as chair, the campus developed the LGBT Resource Center and speakers bureau, and began efforts to develop an LGBT alumni association. Also, he was chair of the systemwide Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Ally Association at the time the university adopted its domestic partner policies.
• Micki Eagle, Political Science — A leader on the Staff Affirmative Action and Diversity Advisory Committee, and other committees and programs that champion the hiring and retention of a diverse staff. She also serves as a spokeswoman and chair of the Staff of American Indian Descent.

A special citation went to Blanca Solis, a physician with the UC Davis Health System, for her work with Clinica Tepati, a bilingual (English-Spanish) free clinic in downtown Sacramento. She is the instructor of record for this student-run project.