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Inclusive Excellence Awards

Last Updated: February 24, 2025 10:35:20 AM PST
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Find out about the program that recognizes employees, departments, and organizational units for their contributions to diversity, equal opportunity, and affirmative action at UC San Diego.

The annual Inclusive Excellence Awards recognizes faculty, staff, students, and departments or groups for their leadership in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion and for their strong commitment to the UC San Diego Principles of Community 

30th Annual Inclusive Excellence Awards Ceremony

The 30th Annual Inclusive Excellence Awards presentation will take place on Wednesday, April, 16, 2025, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., with reception immediately following until 3:30 p.m., at Price Center Ballroom East.

Who can attend?

Inclusive Excellence Award Honorees, their guests, and anyone in the UC San Diego Community are welcome to attend this event!

In person attendees, please register online via Eventbrite. Online attendees, please register via Zoom.

Qualities of a Diversity Champion

  • Celebrates cultural differences 
  • Promotes fairness at UC San Diego
  • Makes UC San Diego a better place to work or learn
  • Demonstrates exemplary support of the UCSD Principles of Community

Nominations

Learn more about awards criteria and award nominations.

Recipients

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2024 Vice Chancellor Recipients

  • Academic Affairs: University Library’s Digital Experience Team 
  • Advancement: EDI Onboarding Implementation Team – Renee Duci, Lindsey Faniola, and Linda Seol 
  • Chancellor’s Office: David Mier 
  • Chief Financial Officer: Raúl A. Navarro Rodríguez   
  • Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Dr. Victor Ferreira 
  • Health Sciences: Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 
  • Marine Sciences: Scripps Scuba DIVERsity Fellowship Program 
  • Operations Management and Capital Programs: Carrie Metzgar 
  • Research and Innovation: Madeleine “Mady” E. Paley 
  • Student Affairs: Dr. Maricela Alvarado 
  • UC San Diego Health: Leiyah Shan 

2024 University-Wide Individual Recipients

  • Faculty Recipient: Oscar Vazquez Mena 
  • Staff Recipient: Nancy Owens Renner  
  • Student Recipient: Leslie Vallejo-Avila 
  • Department/Organizational Unit Recipient: OB Refugee and Asylee Program 

2023 Vice Chancellor recipients

  • Carolyn L. Sandoval, PhD - Academic Affairs Video
  • Alyssa Brambila - Advancement Video 
  • Chancellor's Access to Career Paths: Aileen Serrano and Carl Welliver - Chancellor's Office Video
  • Ventanas-Housing and Dining - Chief Financial Officer Video 
  • Korie Houston - Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Video 
  • Professor Atim Ekpenyong - Health Sciences Video
  • Scripps Ad Hoc Task Force on Space Allocation - Marine Sciences Video  
  • Kent G. Osborn, DVM, PhD - Research and Innovation Video
  • Eliud Escobedo - Resource Management and Planning Video 
  • National Pan-Hellenic Council Plaza Team - Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; Resource Management and Planning; Capital Programs and Student Affairs - Student Affairs Honoree Video 
  • Rai Khamisa - UC San Diego Health Video 

2023 University-wide individual recipients

  • Lauren Brookman-Frazee, PhD - Faculty Recipient Video 
  • Wendy Hunter Barker - Staff Recipient Video 
  • University Communications Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Co-Chairs: Erika Johnson and Kalia Dieson - Department/Organizational Unit Recipient Video  
  • Suhana Singh - Student Recipient Video 

2022 Vice Chancellor recipients

  • Advancing Faculty Diversity Through Cluster Hires Initiatives Teams - Academic Affairs Video 
  • Advancement EDI Steering Committee and EDI Working Committee - Advancement Video 
  • Ethics & Compliance - Chancellor's Office Video 
  • Sheryl Gerbracht - Chief Financial Officer Video 
  • Dr. Kristine Kilanski - Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Video 
  • Eric C. Mah, EdD - Health Sciences Video 
  • Unlearning Racism in Geosciences (URGE), the Scripps URGE Pod, Dr. Vashan Wright and Carlene Burton - Marine Sciences Video
  • David Favela - Research Video
  • RMP IDEA Task Force Co Chairs, Alyson Hong and Bryan Hooks - Resource Management & Planning Video
  • Andrew Hua - Student Affairs Video  
  • Jodi Traver, PhD, RN, NE-BC and Ayelet Ruppin Pham, MN, RN, PHNA-BC - UC San Diego Health Video 

2022 University-wide individual recipients

  • Assistant Professor Javier M. Duarte - Faculty Recipient Video  
  • Blanca E. Reyes - Staff Recipient Video 
  • Consuelo Sauceda - Student Recipient Video 
  • Culture and Justice Quorum of the Department of OBGYN Reproductive Sciences - Department/Organizational Unit Recipient Video 

2021 Vice Chancellor recipients

  • Franklin Garrett - Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs - Video
  • Alumni, Career, Annual Giving, Parent, Pipeline Development & International (ACAGPDI) - 
    Vice Chancellor Advancement  - Video
  • Ashley C. Cooper - Chancellor's Office - Video
  • Integrated Procedure-to-Pay Solutions & Student Financial Solutions -  Video
    Vice Chancellor Chief Financial Officer 
  • Glynda Jones Davis - Vice Chancellor Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - Video
  • Dominic Cooper - Vice Chancellor Health Sciences - Video
  • Scripps Institution of Oceanography Community Engagement Fellows - 
    Vice Chancellor Marine Sciences - Video
  • Research Affairs, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee - Vice Chancellor Research - Video
  • RMP Inclusion Diversity Equity Action (IDEA) Group - 
    Vice Chancellor Resource Management and Planning - Video
  • Chancellor's Associates Scholars Program - Vice Chancellor Student Affairs - Video
  • Health HR Diversity and Inclusion Committee - UC San Diego Health - Video

2021 University-wide individual recipients

  • Dr. Georgia Robins Sadler - Faculty Recipient - Video
  • Katherine Arias Garcia - Staff Recipient - Video
  • Marina Zaher Nakhla - Student Recipient - Video
  • Post Baccalaureate Premedical Program, UCSD Extension - Department/Unit Recipient - Video

2020 Vice Chancellor recipients

  • Shelley Halpain, Ph.D. - Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs - Video
  • Caelie Ericksen-Stark - Vice Chancellor Advancement - Video
  • Aileen Serrano - Chancellor's Office - Video
  • Paula Finnegan - Vice Chancellor Chief Financial Officer - Video
  • Dr. Edwina Welch  - Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - Video
  • Cheryl A.M. Anderson - Vice Chancellor Health Sciences - Video
  • Women and Minorities in Science at SIO - Vice Chancellor Marine Sciences - Video
  • Luz Molina Lopez - Vice Chancellor Research - Video
  • Noemi Bravo-Rojas - Vice Chancellor Resource Management and Planning - Video
  • UC San Diego Athletics - Vice Chancellor Student Affairs - Video
  • Marie J. Webber, FACHE - UC San Diego Health - Video

2020 University-wide individual recipients

  • Sonya E. Neal, Ph.D. - Faculty Recipient - Video
  • Lynsey Buerer - Staff Recipient - Video
  • Syreeta Nolan - Student Recipient - Video
  • HDH CONNECT  - Departmental/Unit Recipient - Video

Prior Recipients

The following 2020 Diversity Champions were honored at a ceremony on February 4, 2020. Find out more about the awards and ceremony.

2019 Vice Chancellor recipients

  • Veronica Abreu and Chelsea Richardson - Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs - Video
  • Career Services/Industry Engagement Team - Vice Chancellor Advancement - Video
  • Irma Martinez Velasco - Chancellor's Office - Video
  • Canyon Vista Marketplace - Vice Chancellor Chief Financial Officer - Video
  • Dr. Laura Kertz  - Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - Video
  • Marvin Hanashiro - Vice Chancellor Health Sciences - Video
  • Keiara Auzenne - Vice Chancellor Marine Sciences - Video
  • The Basement - Vice Chancellor Research - Video
  • Rhonda C. Mitchell - Vice Chancellor Resource Management and Planning - Video 
  • Dulce Amor L. Dorado - Vice Chancellor Student Affairs - Video
  • Karen Elizabeth Mitchell-Keels - UC San Diego Health - Video

2019 University-wide individual recipients

  • Daniela Valdez-Jasso - Faculty Recipient  - Video
  • Rafael S. Hernandez - Staff Recipient - Video
  • Ariana Mirian - Student Recipient - Video
  • The Preuss School  - University-Wide Departmental/Unit Recipient - Video

2018 Vice Chancellor recipients

  • Vicki H. Grassian - Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs - Video
  • Carol J. Hobson - Vice Chancellor Advancement - Video
  • Judy Piercey - Chancellor's Office - Video
  • HDH Residential Success and Community Development - Vice Chancellor Chief Financial Officer - Video
  • Kiyomi Tsuyuki, PhD MPH - Vice Chancellor Health Sciences - Video
  • Jennifer MacKinnon - Vice Chancellor Marine Sciences - Video
  • Saikat Chakraborty Thakur - Vice Chancellor Research - Video
  • Manuel "Nel" Garcia - Vice Chancellor Resource Management and Planning - Video
  • Alicia Magallanes, MSW - Vice Chancellor Student Affairs - Video
  • Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Workgroup - UC San Diego Health - Video

2018 University-wide individual recipients

  • Lisa T. Eyler, PhD - Faculty Recipient - Video
  • Kate Edra - Staff Recipient - Video
  • Alyssa J. Griffen - Student Recipient - Video
  • Ship Operations - University-Wide Departmental/Unit Recipient - Video

2017 Vice Chancellor recipients 

  • Chandler E. Puritty - Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs
  • Danielle R. Dawson - Vice Chancellor Advancement
  • Jaime A. Lopez-Miramontes - Chancellor's Office
  • Yvonne Hernandez Friedman, Ph.D. - Vice Chancellor Chief Financial Officer
  • Matthew T. Herbst, Ph.D. - Vice Chancellor Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
  • Lindia Willies-Jacobo, MD, FAAP - Vice Chancellor Health Sciences
  • Jane K. Willenbring - Vice Chancellor Marine Sciences
  • Office of Postdoctoral and Visiting Scholars Affairs - Vice Chancellor Research
  • Cynthia Wade Morgan - Vice Chancellor Resource Management and Planning
  • Daniel Arturo Alfaro Arellano - Vice Chancellor Student Affairs
  • Joselyn Micaela Harris - UC San Diego Health

2017 University-wide individual recipients

  • Alison Coil - Video
  • Ramon A. Hernandez, DrPH, MPH - Video
  • Gennie B. Miranda - Video
  • Radhika Sundararajan, MD, Ph.D. - Video
  • Karin Sandstrom - Video
  • Dr. Ebonee P.M. Williams - Video

2017 University-wide Organizational recipients

  • Society for Women in Graduate Studies (SWIGS) - Video
  • Student Promoted Access for Education & Services (SPACES) - Video

2017 Student Recipient

  • Rosa Parks Tutoring Program - Video

 2016 Vice Chancellor recipients

  • Professor Darren J. Lipomi - Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs
  • Michelle Tillman - Vice Chancellor Advancement
  • Irma Martinez Velasco - Chancellor's Office
  • Housing Dining Hospitality, Cross Training Program - Vice Chancellor Chief Financial Officer
  • Dr. Mounir Soliman - Vice Chancellor Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
  • Autumn Backhaus, PhD - Vice Chancellor Health Sciences
  • SIO Community for Diversity Hire - Vice Chancellor Marine Sciences
  • Center for Energy Research Diversity Committee - Vice Chancellor Research
  • Residential Security Officers - Vice Chancellor Resource Management and Planning
  • Earl W. Edwards - Vice Chancellor Student Affairs
  • David Mier - UC San Diego Health  

2016 University-wide individual recipients

  • Christine J. Alvarado - Video
  • Alexandra C. Bortnick - Video
  • Jennifer Burney - Video
  • Pamela C. Cosman - Video
  • Cesar Figueroa, Ed.D. - Video
  • Quinn M. Konopacky - Video
  • JoAnn Trejo - Video
  • Belinda Zamacona - Video

2016 University-wide department/unit recipients

  • ArtPower - Video
  • Housing Dining Hospitality, Kosher/Halal Program - Video
  • Initiative for Maximizing Student Development - Video

2016 Student Recipients

  • Jason Dorwart - Video
  • Erick Ramirez Manriquez - Video

 2015 Vice Chancellor recipients

  • Todd P. Coleman  Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs
  • Jessie L. Brooks Vice Chancellor Advancement
  • BFS Strive Leadership Program Vice Chancellor Chief Financial Officer
  • Daphne V. Taylor-Garcia Vice Chancellor Equit, Diversity, and Inclusion
  • Division of Medical Education Vice Chancellor Health Sciences
  • Dr. Stuart A. Sandin Vice Chancellor Marine Sciences 
  • UCSD Community Stations Vice Chancellor Research
  • Manuel Nel Garcia Vice Chancellor Resource Management and Planning
  • Dr. David Artis Vice Chancellor Student Affiars
  • Dion Brown UC San Diego Health

2015 University-wide individual recipients

2015 University-wide department recipients

  • Center for Student Involvement - Video
  • UC San Diego Intercollegiate Athletics - Video

2015 Student Recipients

  • Monique Lenae Grimaldi - Video
  • Jennifer Maria Benavides - Video

2014 Vice Chancellor recipients

  • Professor Brian G. Keating – Vice Academic Affairs
  • Alumni and Community Engagement – Vice Chancellor Advancement
  • Marc Cunningham – Vice Chancellor Chief Financial Officer
  • Dr. Shaun Travers – Vice Chancellor Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
  • Scott R. VandenBerg, M.D., Ph.D. – Vice Chancellor Health Sciences
  • Jane L. Teranes – Vice Chancellor Marine Sciences
  • Michael L. Norman – Vice Chancellor Research
  • Deborah A. Centeno – Resource Management & Planning
  • Gary Ratcliff, Ph.D. – Vice Chancellor Student Affairs
  • Thomas Collins – UC San Diego Health

2014 University-wide individual recipients

  • Tamika A. Franklin - Video
  • Olivia A Graeve - Video
  • Mark A. Lawson, Ph.D. - Video
  • Robert S. Pomeroy - Video
  • Adele Savage - Video
  • Dr. Susan S. Yonezawa - Video

2014 University-wide department/unit recipients

  • CREATE STEM Success Initiative Team - Video
  • Student Worker Collective - Video

2014 Student Recipients

  • Colin King - Video
  • Hilda Graciela Uriarte - Video  

2013 Vice Chancellor recipients

  • Division of Arts & Humanities High School Outreach Program – Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs
  • UC San Diego Emeriti Mentor Program – Vice Chancellor Chief Financial Officer
  • Edwina Welch, Ed.D. – Vice Chancellor Equity, Diversity, Inclusion
  • Bess H. Marcus, Ph.D. – Vice Chancellor Health Sciences
  • Cheryl L. Peach – Vice Chancellor Marine Sciences
  • Carlos D. Molina – Vice Chancellor Research
  • Patricia Lea’e – Vice Chancellor Resource Management & Planning
  • Jon Carlos Senour – Vice Chancellor Student Affairs
  • Patricia T. Atanoa – UC San Diego Health

2013 University-wide individual recipients

  • Ellen Beck, M.D. - Video
  • Adam J. Burgasser, Ph.D. -  Video
  • Pedro J. Cabrales, Ph.D. - Video
  • Diane Forbes Berthoud, Ph.D. - Video
  • Amy P. Hsiao - Video
  • Olga A. Vasques, Ph.D. - Video

2013 University-wide department/unit recipients

  • Department of Psychiatry Chair’s Advisory Committee on Diversity Issues - Video
  • MedEd-Office of Diversity and Community Partnerships - Video
  • Native American Student Alliance (NASA) - Video
  • UC San Diego Overnight Program for Newly Admitted Students - Video

2012 Vice Chancellor recipients

  • R. Bruce Arnold – Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs
  • Hire Online Team – Vice Chancellor Chief Financial Officer
  • Jill Dumbauld Nery – Vice Chancellor Health Sciences
  • Leslee Matsushige & Fernando Nosratpour – Vice Chancellor Marine Sciences
  • Joseph R. Romero – Resource Management & Planning
  • Ann Klein – Vice Chancellor Student Affairs
  • Aaron J. Byzak – UC San Diego Health

2012 University-wide individual recipients

  • Luis Alvarez - Video
  • Laura Connelly  - Video
  • Nadine George-Graves - Video
  • Davyda Johnson - Video
  • Margie Mathewson - Video
  • Frieder Seible - Video
  • Robina Shaheen, Ph.D. - Video
  • Lakeysha Sowunmi - Video

2012 University-wide department/unit recipients

  • Housing Administrative and Triton Account Services - Video
  • The Village of Residential Life - Video
  • UCSD Extension K-16 Programs - Video
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Contact Employee Programs & Recognition at (858) 534-3694.
Note: this page has a friendly link that's easy to remember: http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/diversityawards
Notice: The information on this page summarizes provisions of university policies and/or collective bargaining agreements. Refer to the Personnel Policies for Staff Members (PPSM) and local implementing procedures or applicable collective bargaining agreement for full text of referenced information.