The 2015 recipients of the Center for the Education of Women’s Carol Hollenshead Award for Excellence in Promoting Equity and Social Change are Sandra Gregerman, director of the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, and Edward Goldman, adjunct associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology.

The award, honoring retired CEW Director Carol Hollenshead, is given annually to faculty and staff whose sustained efforts have resulted in greater equity in regard to gender, race, class, age, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation.

Gregerman has directed and developed UROP for more than 20 years. She has connected thousands of students and mentors, with an emphasis on creating research opportunities for underrepresented groups that will strengthen their academic experience and reduce attrition.

Under her leadership, what began as a modest effort to engage first- and second-year undergraduates, expanded to become the premier and longest-running program of its kind. Gregerman conducts workshops across the country to share the UROP model, which demonstrates the importance of early engagement in undergraduate research.

By working closely with many U-M programs, Gregerman ensures that diverse students have access to undergraduate research. This includes the Comprehensive Studies Program, new “mobile” science and engineering programs, Women in Science, Women in Engineering, M-STEM academies, as well as programs for humanities and social science research.

She created the model “alternative pathways” program to introduce qualified community college students to research, and facilitate their transfer to U-M. UROP also offers outplacement programs conducted both in and outside the university, in particular a research program in Detroit to benefit non-profit community based organizations and their constituencies.

In addition, Gregerman developed programming to support the success of young students in research through an innovative peer-advising program that facilitates seminars on research methods, research ethics and integrity, and multicultural issues in research. 

She is recognized as a passionate advocate and mentor of minority students, women, and those underserved in society.

 “She has done this work with vision, creativity, complete dedication, and skillful negotiation with faculty and administrative units,” says John Jonides, Edward E. Smith Collegiate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience.

Goldman is an attorney who led the U-M Health System Legal Office from 1978 to 2009. From 2004-09, he also served as associate vice president and deputy general counsel for the university.

In 2009, he moved to the Medical School’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as an adjunct associate professor to create its Sexual Rights and Reproductive Justice Program. He also holds teaching appointments in the School of Public Health, Women’s Studies in LSA, and the Law School. He also works with a law school in Ghana to create a Law Students for Reproductive Justice chapter and a teaching curriculum in women’s rights.

A 2013 conference led by Goldman drew more than 200 participants to further collaborations on sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice in the U.S. and Africa. Goldman subsequently received a Ford Foundation grant aimed at improving capacity and collaboration across reproductive rights organizations in Michigan.

As a health system attorney, Goldman encouraged a proactive and collaborative approach to solving problems in order to limit the risk of lawsuits. He organized small groups of physicians, nurses, students and social workers to discuss patient access to information and cooperation, and suggested Grand Rounds training that crossed faculty disciplines and professional roles, resulting in improved decision making and policies benefiting patients.

Alexandra Stern, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, American culture, history and women’s studies, describes Goldman as “a creative, smart, fun and gentle problem solver … an advocate and an academic who works exceedingly well with advocates out in the ‘real world.'”

Sallie Foley, a lecturer in the School of Social Work, says, “He has the ability to pull the best from others. … He truly reflects Carol Hollenshead’s attributes.”

This year’s Hollenshead Award will be presented at 5 p.m. April 1 in the Kahn Auditorium of the Biomedical Science Research Building, 109 Zina Pitcher Place.

The award ceremony will precede a free public lecture by Michel Martin, journalist and correspondent for National Public Radio and ABC News.

Martin came to NPR in 2006 and launched Tell Me More, a one-hour daily news and talk show that aired nationwide from 2007-14. She has spent more than 25 years as a journalist — first in print with major newspapers and then in television and radio.

Guests of the awardees are encouraged to email [email protected] to arrange for special seating. Other attendees are encouraged to register for seating at the lecture at www.cew.umich.edu.

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