Overview

The Provost and President issue an annual award honoring two Cornell faculty members for their transformational excellence in research, teaching and service through diversity. This university-wide award is aimed at tenure track, tenured, research, teaching and extension faculty members. Two faculty will each be selected to receive a $15,000 award. Previous recipients are listed here.

Objective

To recognize and reward transformational, outstanding, and sustained research or creative work, teaching/mentoring, and service/outreach that advance diversity at Cornell University. Diversity is defined broadly as the variety of cultures, world views, values, and personal experiences that may result from differences, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, national origin/immigration status, gender, age, religion, abilities, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Criteria

The award recognizes distinctive and outstanding accomplishments that lead to systemic and transformational change. The award looks for sustained impact in the following areas.

Research or Creative Work

• Advancement of new knowledge or creative work that has driven a change in the nominee’s field of study, and/or new research expanding the understanding of how diversity transformed the field and/or has the potential to improve the quality of life among underrepresented groups in the nominee’s field of study.
• The award also recognizes engagement in innovative research that enhances our understanding of diversity, attracts new scholars to the field and improves access and opportunity.

Teaching and Mentoring

• Development and implementation of effective strategies for teaching that advance the education of students from underrepresented groups; activities can include innovative classroom instruction and advising (undergraduate or graduate students).
• Mentoring undergraduate or graduate students who are members of groups which are historically or currently underrepresented in their field and/or whose background and experiences contribute to campus diversity.
• Creating curricula that enable the development of student intercultural competence to navigate today’s global and multicultural realities.
• Implementing effective strategies/policies that address barriers preventing the full participation of students from historically or currently underrepresented groups in higher education and the professoriate.

Service and Outreach

• Promoting the professional and/or academic advancement of underrepresented group’s in the applicant’s field as well as their well-being;
• Enhancing diversity and equal opportunity through activities such as recruitment and mentoring of faculty and students;
• Participating in exceptional sustained committee or administrative service that has significantly enhanced policy or processes that advance the principles of equity and inclusion;
• Crucial contributions to campus culture, practices,  or programs that have had a demonstrable and important effect in helping the campus achieve achieve diversity and inclusion.

Nomination Process

Faculty, staff, and students may nominate tenured, tenure track, research, teaching and extension faculty. Nominations are to be sent to ofdd@cornell.edu. Faculty may also submit a self-nomination. All nominations must include:

• Stage 1 – A letter of nomination, paying particular attention to how the nominee’s activities reflect the criteria noted above (Max 500 words)
• Stage 2 – Candidates selected to move to the final selection stage will have to submit:
  • A letter of support from the chair and dean of the nominee;
  • At least two (and no more than five) letters of support (from individuals who can provide testimony to the transformational impact and sustained effectiveness of the nominee’s contributions; at least one letter should be form a member of the Cornell community;
  • A CV demonstrating the track record of the nominee in the areas described above;
  • Any supporting documents as appropriate (e.g. media coverage, teaching evaluations).
  • Complete packet should be limited to no more than 60 pages.

Letters of intent are due on March 17, 2025. Follow up materials are due May 7, 2025.  Letters of nomination should be sent to ofdd@cornell.edu.