History and School of Medicine Professors Earn IUPUI Excellence in Diversity Awards

History Associate Professor Monroe H. Little Jr. and ophthalmology Associate Professor David A. Suzuki are the recipients of the 2008 Joseph Taylor Excellence in Diversity Awards at IUPUI.

The Excellence in Diversity Award recognizes IUPUI individuals and campus programs that have contributed to the increased recruitment and retention of African American, Hispanic and Native Americans among IUPUI faculty, staff and students. Nominations for recipients are solicited campuswide.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Chancellor Charles R. Bantz presented the diversity awards on Feb. 29, 2008, during the luncheon at the annual symposium that honors the legacy of Joseph T. Taylor, the first dean of the Indiana University School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI. During each presentation, Bantz quoted from a nomination letter submitted in support of the award recipient.

Quoting from one letter, Bantz said Little, director of the African American and African Diaspora Studies program in the School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, has been a "champion" of diversity efforts on the IUPUI campus. Little, who is writing a biography of Joseph Taylor, holds a doctorate from Princeton University.

"As a colleague, (Little) encourages us to think about diversity-related issues by the example of his own commitment . . . What Monroe Little has done in the area of diversity has made a real difference," Bantz said.

Suzuki, co-founder of the Asian Pacific American Faculty and Staff Council at IUPUI, has also been an exemplary as an advocate of diversity and equity. Suzuki teaches in the IU School of Medicine, which is on the IUPUI campus.

"Dr. Suzuki thinks analytically about issues of culture," and is not one to go along with a group simply so that a matter can be easily resolved, Bantz said in the words of a nominator. "David raises difficult questions that others may not ask or even consider. He (reminds) us that to bring about equity is not easy, simplistic work, and it requires sustained engagement."

The 19th Annual Joseph Taylor Symposium was held Feb. 29 at the IUPUI Campus Center. The theme was "'You Talkin' to Me?' Political Messages/Multicultural Perspectives."

About 300 IUPUI faculty, staff and students, along with friends of the IUPUI community, attended the luncheon held in the IUPUI Campus Center multi-purpose room. Melissa Harris-Lacewell, associate professor of politics and African American studies at Princeton University, delivered the keynote address. Harris-Lacewell discussed findings of surveys and interviews conducted as research for her upcoming book "For Colored Girls Who've considered Politics When Being Strong Wasn't Enough."