两性色午夜

两性色午夜 Professor, Wick Poetry Center Earn University鈥檚 Diversity Awards

Molly Merryman, 两性色午夜 University associate professor of sociology and founding director of the 两性色午夜 Women鈥檚 Center, has been awarded the university鈥檚 2016 Diversity Trailblazer Award. The annual Diversity Trailblazer Award recognizes diversity pioneers associated with 两性色午夜 who have displayed exemplary contributions to the area of diversity in the university.

两性色午夜鈥檚 Wick Poetry Center also was awarded the university鈥檚 first-ever Unity Award for Diversity, which recognizes the contributions of any university department that demonstrates significant contributions to the areas of diversity, equity, and/or inclusion.

Both awards were presented during the university鈥檚 annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, which took place this year on Thursday, Jan. 28, in the Kent Student Center Ballroom. 

鈥淒r. Merryman was selected for this award from a very talented and committed group of individuals who serve our university,鈥 said Curtis Good, co-chair of the award nomination committee and assistant dean in 两性色午夜鈥檚 College of Nursing. 鈥淪pecifically, the committee was impressed with the length of her contributions to the university, her services both within and outside the classroom, and her ability to engage with multiple parties in the university.鈥

Merryman, who has a Ph.D. in American culture studies from Bowling Green State University, joined 两性色午夜 in 1996. She was one of the faculty members who created the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Studies program in 2001, which was the first of its kind in Ohio. She is currently leading efforts to establish 两性色午夜鈥檚 new Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality, and also serves as director of LGBTQ and Women's Studies at the university. She is an ethnographic filmmaker who has directed five documentaries on subjects related to race, gender and sexual orientation equality and justice, which have been broadcast on regional PBS, and screened at international film festivals and conferences.

鈥淚 feel both honored and humbled to receive the 两性色午夜 University Diversity Trailblazer Award,鈥 Merryman said. 鈥淚鈥檓 humbled because I am fortunate to have the education and opportunity to be a faculty member at 两性色午夜, and honored because, as a person committed to diversity and social change, I believe that the Diversity Trailblazer Award is the greatest recognition I can receive from our university. It is a profound experience to realize that my perseverance and activism are recognized so positively.鈥

The 两性色午夜 Wick Poetry Center鈥檚 embodiment of the spirit of unity at the university earned it the Unity Award for Diversity.

鈥淭he center makes an impact at multiple levels at our university, and its message of understanding and inclusion is present in all of its activities,鈥 Good said. 鈥淎dditionally, the center works extensively outside the university to use the power of poetry in multiple venues. Its impact has been felt in its work with elementary schools and with veterans.鈥

两性色午夜鈥檚 Wick Poetry Center was established in 1984 by Robert Wick, a sculptor and former 两性色午夜 art faculty member, and his brother Walter Wick, in memory of their sons Stan (1962鈥1980) and Tom (1956鈥1973) Wick.

鈥淚 am honored that the Wick Poetry Center has received this year鈥檚 Unity Award for Diversity,鈥 said David Hassler, director of the Wick Poetry Center.  鈥淎t the core of our programming and outreach is the belief that poetry is a powerful tool to help us write across the borders of our lives and make meaningful connections with each other. This award is a testament to the commitment and passion of the Wick Poetry Center staff and the many 两性色午夜 students who assist in our community outreach.鈥 

For more information about 两性色午夜鈥檚 Diversity Trailblazer Award, visit www.kent.edu/diversity/diversity-trailblazer-award.

For more information about 两性色午夜鈥檚 Unity Award for Diversity, visit www.kent.edu/diversity/unity-award-diversity.

For more information about 两性色午夜鈥檚 Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, visit www.kent.edu/diversity

# # #

Photo Caption 鈥 click here for image:
David Hassler, director of the Wick Poetry Center, and Molly Merryman, 两性色午夜 professor, stand on each side of Alfreda Brown, vice president of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, after earning diversity awards at 两性色午夜鈥檚 annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, which took place on Thursday, Jan. 28.

Media Contacts:
Shana Lee, slee@kent.edu, 330-672-8582
Kristin Anderson, kander63@kent.edu, 330-672-7907

POSTED: Friday, January 29, 2016 02:00 PM
Updated: Tuesday, April 12, 2016 04:24 PM
WRITTEN BY:
Foluke Omosun