Larine Y. Cowan Make a Difference Awards
The Larine Y. Cowan Make a Difference Awards celebrate the achievements of faculty, academic professionals and civic service employees who made significant contributions in creating and sustaining an inclusive living, learning and working community at Illinois. Named in honor of the past Assistant Chancellor and Director of what is now the Office for Access & Equity, the Larine Y. Cowan Awards were created to reflect the commitment to human rights advocacy, social justice, and diversity that defined her leadership for nearly 20 years at Illinois.
How to Nominate
Nominations are now open for the 2021 Cowan Awards. Deadline: Friday, September 10, 2021. Award categories are as follows:
- Advocacy for LGBTQ Affairs, honoring students, staff, or faculty who have demonstrated their commitment to supporting and promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) affairs at Illinois. LGBTQ Affairs Nomination Form.
- Excellence in Access and Accommodations, honoring individuals or campus units for their efforts to expand and improve the utilization of programs and structures by persons with disabilities. Access and Accommodations Nomination Form.
- Leadership in Diversity, honoring nominees who demonstrate exceptional dedication to and success in promoting diversity and inclusion via research, hiring practices, courses, programs, and events. Leadership in Diversity Nomination Form.
- Teaching and Mentoring in Diversity, honoring 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. Teaching and Mentoring in Diversity Nomination Form.
Nomination Process
Nominations may be submitted by any member of the University community (co-worker, supervisor, adviser, dean or department head, student).
Nominations may include a statement from the nominator as well as two additional statements of support. Statements of support should be uploaded to the nomination form.
Nomination statements, including specific examples, should describe the nominee’s accomplishments at the University of Illinois related to the category. For faculty and staff nominees, greater consideration will be given to those individuals whose accomplishments are above and beyond standard job responsibilities. For specific information, please see the nomination form for each category.
The Cowan Awards are presented each year during the Annual Celebration of Diversity hosted by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
Past Recipients
Advocacy for LGBTQ Affairs
2020 – Robin Fretwell Wilson
2019 – Amy L. Powell
2018 – Keiko Price
2017 – Johnell Bentz
2016 – Andrea Cailles
2015 – Manuel Colón
2014 – Alejandro Gómez
2013 – Louis Bergonzi
2012 – Michael Parrish
Excellence in Access and Accommodations
2020 – Meghan Burke and Ann Fredricksen
2019 – M.T. Hudson
2018 – Christy Blew
2017 – Stacy Dymond
2016 – Elevator Control Team
2015 – Joseph D. Minarik
2014 – Reggie Alston
2013 – University Housing
2012 – Timothy Offenstein
Leadership in Diversity
2020 – Kimberly J. Shinew
2019– Ruby Mendenhall
2018 – Harley Johnson
2017 – Tony Franklin and Brenda Wilson
2016 – Lynford Goddard and Toni Pitts
2015 – Jonathan Inda, Ronald Bailey, and Assata Zerai
2014 – Melvin Boatner
2013 – D. Lynette O’Neal
2012 – Avé Alvarado
Teaching and Mentoring in Diversity
2020 – Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher
2019 – Monika Stodolska
2018 – Isabel Molina-Guzman
2017 – Mikhail Lyubansky
2016 – Nicole Cooke
2015 – Janet Carter-Black and Stephen Zimmerman
2014 – Stacy Harwood, Jan Eckert and Andrew Alleyne
2013 – Adrian Burgos, Jr.
2012 – Menah Pratt-Clarke
2011 (no specific categories)
Kimberly Alexander-Brown
Chris Benson
Elyne Cole
Jesse Thompson, Jr.
2010
James Anderson
Wendy Heller
Sheri Shaw
2009
East Saint Louis Action Research Project
Susan Linnemeyer
Alejandro Lugo
Anna Tsai
2008
College of Education
Facilities and Services
2007
Helen Neville
Feniosky A. Pena-Mora