Staff, Faculty awarded for work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Four University of Illinois faculty and staff members were recognized for their exceptional dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion as the 2024 recipients of the Larine Y. Cowan Make a Difference Awards.
The Larine Y. Cowan Awards are presented annually to University of Illinois faculty and staff by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in four categories: Advocacy for LGBTQ Affairs, Excellence in Access & Accommodations, Leadership in Diversity, and Teaching and Mentoring in Diversity.
Named in honor of the past Assistant Chancellor and Director of what is now the Office for Access & Equity, these annual awards reflect the commitment to human rights advocacy and diversity that defined the leadership of Larine Y. Cowan for nearly 20 years at Illinois.
The award recipients were honored at the 39th Annual Celebration of Diversity on Friday, November 8, 2024, at the I Hotel and Conference Center.
A special thank you to the 2024 Make a Difference Award Review Committee Members, which include previous Cowan Award Winners Avital Livny, Toby Beauchamp, Christy Blew, Ann Fredericksen, Alejandro Gomez Jr., Kevin Jackson, Liam Moran and Mimi Thi Nguyen.
Teaching and Mentoring in Diversity: Dr. Irfan Ahmad
This award honors faculty, instructors, or lecturers who have consistently contributed to the promotion of understanding critical issues related to diversity and equity in teaching and/or the mentoring of diverse students.
This recognition is posthumously awarded to Dr. Irfan Ahmad who was part of the university community since he began his master’s degree in 1989 until his passing in Spring 2024. A true collaborator and community-builder, he brought together faculty and students from across campus, along with external partners to advance health care through innovation. His wisdom, his calming and positive personality, and his commitment to collaboration have been deeply appreciated in both the Carle Illinois College of Medicine and The Grainger College of Engineering.
Ahmad embodied the collective mission of collaboration and advancing engineering-based health and biomedical innovation through his work and expertise in engineering, medicine, and beyond. Ahmad, a native of Pakistan, received his master’s degree and Ph.D. from the university. After completing his Ph.D., he worked in industry before returning to the U of I in 2002. Since 2017, he served as the Executive Director of interdisciplinary Initiatives in Grainger Engineering and continued providing strategic leadership and support of the ideation, development, and execution of large multidisciplinary, multi-institutional projects.
Ahmad joined Carle Illinois College of Medicine in February 2019 as Assistant Dean for Research and Research Professor of Biomedical and Translational Sciences. He assisted in leading the Office of Research, mentored many students on research and innovation projects, and led the very successful Health Make-a-thon each fall. Ahmad was also lead founder, President, and Board of Directors member of Avicenna Community Health Center in Champaign, Illinois, from 2009 to the present, with a mission to provide free healthcare for the uninsured and underinsured.
Excellence in Access and Accommodations: Chanda Hott
This award honors individuals or campus units for their efforts to expand and improve the utilization of programs and structures by persons with disabilities.
Chanda Hott earned her M.S. in higher education administration from the University of Kansas and B.A. in marketing from Buena Vista University in northwest Iowa. She has served as the assistant director of Housing Information for University Housing since 2017. Chanda oversees the contract, assignment and billing processes for undergraduate and graduate upper-division residence halls. Her work focuses on facilitating processes that are transparent, efficient, and accessible to all students. She views the student experience as being of utmost importance and her top priority. Chanda dedicates time to working with students individually to explain processes, encourage self-advocacy and provide a genuine listening ear.
Advocacy for LGBTQ Affairs: Elise Lanker
This award honors students, staff, or faculty who have demonstrated their commitment to supporting and promoting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer affairs at Illinois.
Elise Lanker is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, and two-time University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alum. Elise previously held a position as a clinical counselor at the Counseling Center on Illinois’ campus and during this time served as co-chair of the Queers & Allies LGBTQIA+ outreach and prevention team, and as chair of the LGBTQIA+ Ally Network Training Committee. She now owns a therapy private practice, Elise Lanker Counseling, PLLC, serving Queer adults across Illinois in their journey to gain greater confidence in who they are.
Leadership in Diversity: Brian Fulton
This award honors those who demonstrate exceptional dedication to and success in promoting diversity and inclusion via research, hiring practices, courses, programs, and events.
Brian Fulton has worked at the University of Illinois for 18 years in various capacities. He currently serves as the Director of Administration in the Department of Business Administration in the Gies College of Business. He serves as facilitator for the LGBTQ+ and Allies Affinity Group and received his master’s degree in Diversity and Equity. He created a class that looked at the impact of racial inequality in business and helps teach future business leaders that they can make a difference. He also studies the importance of historical perspective of racial inequality in business education.