Board of Governors | California Community Colleges | May 5-6, 2003 2003 John W. Rice Award for Diversity and Equity Special Presentation Presentation: Catherine L. Unger, President Board of Governors Thomas J. Nussbaum, Chancellor Fusako Yokotobi, Vice Chancellor of Human Resources Issue 4 This item announces and recognizes the two recipients of the 2003 John W. Rice Award for Diversity and Equity. Background The John W. Rice Award for Diversity and Equity was established in 2001 to honor the community college individual, district, or college who has made the greatest contribution towards faculty and staff diversity or student equity. This award is named in honor of former Board of Governors' member John W. Rice. He served on the Board from 1995-2000 and was a leader, innovator, and spokesperson for equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination in the California Community Colleges. This award is named in his behalf as a testament to his commitment to diversity and equity and his forceful support of a multicultural learning experience for all students. This year's award recipients were nominated by their chief executive officers and selected by members of the Chancellor's Office staff. There were many nominees but the two recipients clearly demonstrated their outstanding achievement to diversity and equity. All of the past and present John W. Rice Awards have been generously supported by the Foundation for California Community Colleges. Each recipient will receive a commemorative award. The 2003 award winners are: Dibakar Barua, Ph.D. of Golden West College in Huntington Beach. Dibakar is a professor of English, chair of the English Department, and faculty leader. At the college level, he has served as the President of the Academic Senate; co-coordinator of the first Puente Project; founding member of the Intercultural Center; long-time member of the Intercultural Affairs committee; developer of numerous instructional programs; and leader of many institutional initiatives. At the state level, he served as the co-chair of the State Chancellor's Task Force on Equity and Diversity; chair of the Academic Senate's Affirmative Action/Cultural Diversity Committee; member of the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate; and current chair of the Senate's Basic Skills Committee. Throughout his professional career Barua has distinguished himself as a tireless champion and leader for diversity and equity in educational, governance, and policy matters. He has made a significant difference in the lives of thousands of students and faculty.
|