Chancellor’s Award for Advancing Institutional Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion

Chancellor’s Award for Advancing Institutional Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion (est. 2011)

The Chancellor's Award for Advancing Institutional Excellence in Diversity Award recognizes an individual or group exemplifying the UMass Chan Diversity Statement, which calls for individuals to work toward building an inclusive culture characterized by civility and respect; increasing numbers of underrepresented groups in student, faculty and staff positions; improving the cultural competence of the workforce through diversity education and programming; and advancing health equity by making a significant impact on reducing disparities through research, service and practice.

2020: Valerie Wedge, LICSW, program director, employee assistance program
2019: Jeffrey Way, MS, senior administrative manager at MassBiologics
2018: Executive Council Ad Hoc Working Group on Underrepresented Minorities in Academic Medicine
2017: Jorge Sanchez Jr., MEd, director of client relations for ForHealth Consulting
2016: Milagros Rosal, PhD, professor of medicine in the division of preventive & behavioral Medicine
2015: Brian Lewis, PhD, associate professor of molecular, cell & cancer biology
2014: Jeroan Allison, MD, MSci, professor and vice chair of quantitative health sciences, professor of medicine and associate vice provost for health disparities research
2013: Deborah Harmon Hines, PhD, professor of cell & developmental biology and vice provost for school services
2012: Pranoti Mandrekar, PhD, associate professor of medicine
2011: Warren Ferguson, MD, associate professor of family medicine & community health

About Chancellor's Award for Advancing Institutional Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion

The Chancellor’s Award for Advancing Institutional Excellence in Diversity is bestowed upon an individual or group exemplifying the UMass Chan's Diversity Statement.

Diversity is inherent in UMass Chan Medical School’s mission to advance the health and well-being of the people of the Commonwealth and the world. As a leading academic health sciences center, we are preparing tomorrow’s physicians, nurses and scientists to serve and relate to a multicultural society by:

• Building an inclusive culture characterized by civility and respect 
• Increasing numbers of underrepresented groups in student, faculty and staff positions 
• Improving the cultural competence of our workforce through diversity education and programming 
• Advancing health equity by making a significant impact on reducing disparities through research, service and practice 

Diversity at UMass Chan is fully embraced and fundamental to its institutional excellence.

This institutional award is given at our annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration in January. 

Nomination Eligibility Criteria: 

• All employees affiliated with UMass Chan for three or more years are eligible
• Nominations require one or more of the following:
  • Demonstrated a significant commitment and contribution to enhancing diversity exceeding their job responsibilities at UMass Chan
  • Successful outcomes in the recruitment and retention of faculty, staff and students related to diversity
  • Created or established models of cultural diversity and inclusion to enhance the UMass Chan system
  • Created new and progressive best practices that support the diversity and inclusion at UMass Chan
  • Supported, promoted and developed a culture of civility by respect, integrity and courtesy in their work life and activities
  • Published scholarly work in the areas of multiculturalism, inclusion, diversity or civility
  • Contributed to diversity, inclusion and civility efforts in building permanent structures and programs showing progress toward a sustained and continued effort University-wide
  • Exhibits visionary and insightful leadership to confront and resolve inequities and create an inclusive, engaged and civil work environment