[Vision2020] Debi Gets Famous

[Bill London]

Long-time V2020 commentator Debi Robinson-Smith will receive a Martin Luther 
King, Jr. Distinguished Service Award from WSU this Saturday at the 
convocation at Beasley.  See the press info below....
Congratulations!
BL


>>PULLMAN, Wash.-Washington State University Education Professor D. Michael 
>>Pavel will receive the university's inaugural Diversity Faculty Award. The 
>>Office of the Provost in cooperation with the Division of Student Affairs, 
>>Equity and Diversity created the award to formally recognize faculty 
>>members who advance diversity through their teaching, research and 
>>community service.
>>
>>WSU staff member Debi Robinson-Smith and graduate student Michael Schwartz 
>>will receive Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Awards. Pavel, 
>>Robinson-Smith and Schwartz will be formally recognized at the WSU Martin 
>>Luther King Jr. Convocation, at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19 in Beasley 
>>Performing Arts Coliseum.
>>
>>Following the award ceremony Judy Richardson, educational director for the 
>>award-wining documentary series "Eyes on the Prize," and key figure in the 
>>Civil Rights Movement, will give a presentation. The event is free an open 
>>to the public.
>>
>>Pavel is an associate professor in Educational Leadership and Counseling 
>>Psychology. He came to WSU in 1994 from the University of California, Los 
>>Angeles where he was as an assistant professor. WSU Diversity Faculty 
>>Fellow Alex Tan, speaking on behalf of the award selection committee, said 
>>Pavel's contributions to diversity extend across all areas of teaching, 
>>research, and outreach.
>>
>>"Dr. Pavel's commitment and passion for advancing diversity is 
>>remarkable," said Tan. "He is nationally recognized for his work with the 
>>Native Indian population, he is an effective and passionate mentor, and 
>>his scholarly work is used as a tool that helps advance under-represented 
>>groups."
>>
>>Speech and Hearing Sciences Professor Ella Inglebret said Pavel encouraged 
>>her to pursue the doctorate degree she earned in 2001 and felt compelled 
>>to nominate him for the award since he has played a key role in her life.
>>
>>"As a result of his mentorship, I came to realize I could be a change 
>>agent on a much larger scale," said Inglebret. "Similar to my experience, 
>>he has served as an inspirational leader to many other students, teachers, 
>>administrators, professors and leaders of tribal nations through his work 
>>at Washington State University and across the United States."
>>
>>Pavel said he is "honored" and "humbled" to receive the award emphasizing 
>>faculty members are core stakeholders of the university that can bridge 
>>diversity work from our offices to the classrooms and from our labs to the 
>>field. "We all step forward in so many ways to find a place of 
>>appreciation that is central to our humanity," he said.
>>
>>Distinguished Service Awards recipient Robinson-Smith, assistant director 
>>in the Women's Resource Center since 2002, was hailed by her nominator as 
>>a tireless worker who is not one to seek the limelight.
>>
>>"Debi is a woman of courage, judgment, and commitment," said Melynda 
>>Huskey. "Her work, like the vital work of so many women, is often 
>>overlooked; the joyous color, the artistic embellishment, the nourishing 
>>of mind, spirit and body which goes hand-in-hand with her never-flagging 
>>commitment to human rights."
>>
>>In her current position, Robinson-Smith advises five women's organizations 
>>including the Association of Pacific and Asian Women, Black Women's 
>>Caucus, Mujeres Unidas, Native American Women's Association, and the YWCA 
>>of WSU. She previously directed the YWCA of WSU as well as the Palouse 
>>Regional Crisis Line.
>>
>>Schwartz, the Distinguished Service Awards recipient in the student 
>>category, is working on his master's degree in history at WSU. The San 
>>Jose, Calif., native was nominated for his contributions to WSU's Center 
>>for Civic Engagement (CCE) where he serves as coordinator of the Statewide 
>>Service Learning Program.
>>
>>Nominators Dan Allbery and Kim Freier wrote, "Through his combined 
>>efforts, Michael has facilitated the development of community 
>>partnerships, mutual education, critical dialogue, and direct service that 
>>has benefitted people throughout Washington State."
>>
>>"I am deeply honored to be a recipient of this award," said Schwartz. 
>>"More than anything I believe it is a testament to the people with whom I 
>>work and hope this award brings more attention to the CCE and the amazing 
>>and important service-learning students can do."
>>
>>Every year the MLK Celebration Committee analyzes written nominations for 
>>its Distinguished Service Award. Committee members seek individuals and 
>>organizations that exemplify the ideals of Martin Luther King by making 
>>meaningful contributions to the Pullman community through leadership, 
>>service and education.
>>
>>In a coordinated but separate process from WSU's, the University of Idaho 
>>also selected its MLK Distinguished Service Award Recipients. They are 
>>Heather Kae, Victor Mazo, Nanci Sandoval, Irina Kappler-Crookston, and the 
>>M.E.Ch.A. student organization. They will be recognized at UI's Hartung 
>>Theatre following a performance by Living Voices. More information about 
>>the recipients and Living Voices can be obtained by visiting 
>>www.uidaho.edu/oma.
>>
>>For more information about the events for the MLK Celebration visit 
>>www.mlk.wsu.edu or www.wsunews.wsu.edu/detail.asp?StoryID=6951.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>
>>Washington State University
>>News Service
>>French Ad #336
>>Pullman, WA  99164-1040
>>509/335-3581, e-mail: wsunews at wsu.edu
>>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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