January 30, 2024

Distinguished Diversity Leaders Award recipients honored

By Matt Snyder
University Human Resources

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U-M faculty and staff celebrated the exceptional contributions of staff Jan. 30 with presentations of the Distinguished Diversity Leaders Awards.

The ceremony honored 10 staff members and five teams for their dedication to diversity.

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Tami Strickman, special adviser to the president and executive director of the Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX Office, welcomed award recipients and their guests, and highlighted the importance of the awards.

“Sustaining and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at the University of Michigan require a collective commitment,” Strickman said. “Today, we celebrate our outstanding staff members who exemplify these values in their work.”

Photo of Brandon Bond
Photo of Stephen W. Brabbs
Photo of Patricia Brainard
Photo of Alex Franklin
Photo of Paula Hathaway
Photo of Hilary Murmers
Photo of Mina Nourbakhsh
Photo of Whitney Peoples
Photo of Ari Renda
Photo of Caitlin Taylor
Recipients of individual Distinguished Diversity Leaders Awards are, top row from left, Brandon Bond, Stephen W. Brabbs, Patricia Brainard, Alex Franklin and Paula Hathaway; bottom row, from left, Hilary Murmers, Mina Nourbakhsh, Whitney Peoples, Ari Renda and Caitlin Taylor.

Established in 2008, the awards serve to recognize and celebrate staff members’ dedication and commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive and welcoming campus culture.

Awardees received a framed certificate and a monetary award for professional development or further training, with individuals receiving $1,000 and teams receiving $2,500.

Rich Holcomb, associate vice president for Human Resources, praised the honorees.

“Our staff’s devotion and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion consistently fuel our mission to excel,” Holcomb said. “Every day, I witness how their efforts shape our culture and propel the university towards a brighter, more inclusive future.”

The School of Information (UMSI) team,, pictured L-R: Rebecca Epstein, Claudia Leo, James Reitz, Colum Slevin, Brian Schmidt, Todd Stuart, and Barb Smith received the U-M Distinguished Diversity Leaders Team Award in a ceremony held at Palmer Commons in Ann Arbor, Mich., Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. Not shown is Jacques Chestnut
The School of Information Religious Holiday Fact Sheet Team, from left, Rebecca Epstein, Claudia Leo, James Reitz, Colum Slevin, Brian Schmidt, Todd Stuart and Barb Smith. Not shown is Jacques Chestnut. (Photo by Jose Juarez)
The Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Machine Shop Team, pictured L-R: Donald Wirkner, Mike Klein, and Kemal Duran received the U-M Distinguished Diversity Leaders Team Award in a ceremony held at Palmer Commons in Ann Arbor, Mich., Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.
The Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Machine Shop Team, from left, Donald Wirkner, Mike Klein and Kemal Duran. (Photo by Jose Juarez)
Inpatient Therapy (PT & OT) DEI Committee pictured L-R: Sabrina Ahmad, Clare Still, Matthew LaDue, Sophie Manning, Nancy Broadway, Gomati Kanphade, Barb Bernard Butler, Deanne Richmond received the U-M Distinguished Diversity Leaders Team Award in a ceremony held at Palmer Commons in Ann Arbor, Mich., Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. Not shown are Jill Gough and Ben Marr.
Inpatient Therapy (PT & OT) DEI Committee, from left, Sabrina Ahmad, Clare Still, Matthew LaDue, Sophie Manning, Nancy Broadway, Gomati Kanphade, Barb Bernard Butler and Deanne Richmond. Not shown are Jill Gough and Ben Marr. (Photo by Jose Juarez)
The CRLT DEIJ All-Staff Professional Development Team, pictured L-R: Brian Konz, Jonathan West, Khalid Muneer, Laura Gonzalez, Carol Lagemann, Jeanne Andreoli, and Malini Dasgupta received the U-M Distinguished Diversity Leaders Team Award in a ceremony held at Palmer Commons in Ann Arbor, Mich., Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. Not shown: Mishelle Dimitrova, Linda LaNoue, Elizabeth Mann Levesque, Megan Stowe, Esther Witte
The CRLT DEI All-Staff Professional Development Team, from left, Brian Konz, Jonathan West, Khalid Muneer, Laura Gonzalez, Carol Lagemann, Jeanne Andreoli and Malini Dasgupta. Not shown are Mishelle Dimitrova, Linda LaNoue, Elizabeth Mann Levesque, Megan Stowe and Esther Witte. (Photo by Jose Juarez)
The LSA Transfer Fund team is pictured, from left, Nick Turinsky, Abby Adil, Justin Villanueva, Morgan Gavorek, Michael Hartman and Christian Comment. (Photo by Jose Juarez)
The LSA Transfer Team, from left, Nick Turinsky, Abby Adil, Justin Villanueva, Morgan Gavorek, Michael Hartman and Christian Comment. (Photo by Jose Juarez)
Recipients of Team Distinguished Diversity Leaders Awards are, clockwise from top left, the School of Information Religious Holiday Fact Sheet Team, the Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Machine Shop Team, the Inpatient Therapy (PT & OT) DEI Committee, the LSA Transfer Team and the CRLT DEI All-Staff Professional Development Team. Click on each photo to enlarge and view the recipients’ names. (Photos by Jose Juarez)

The DDLA is managed by the ECRT Office and sponsored by the Office of the Provost and University Human Resources.

Winners of the 12th annual Distinguished Diversity Leaders Awards are:

  • Brandon Bond, LSA Dean’s Office.
  • Stephen W. Brabbs, Maintenance Services, Facilities & Operations.
  • Patricia Brainard, Civil and Environmental Engineering.
  • Alex Franklin, Department of Chemistry, LSA.
  • Paula Hathaway, LSA Dean’s Office.
  • Hilary Murmers, Center for Gender & Sexuality, UM-Flint.
  • Mina Nourbakhsh, ACS Rehab Therapies & SLP, Michigan Medicine.
  • Whitney Peoples, School of Public Health Dean’s Office.
  • Ari Renda, School of Public Health Office for Student Engagement and Practice.
  • Caitlin Taylor, School of Music, Theatre & Dance.
  • Inpatient Therapy (PT & OT) DEI Committee.
  • LSA Transfer Team.
  • Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Machine Shop Team.
  • School of Information Religious Holiday Fact Sheet Team.
  • CRLT’s DEI All-Staff Professional Development Team.
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