Josie R. Johnson Human Rights
and Social Justice Award
General information
Nomination Guidelines
Nomination information
Recipients
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| Josie Robinson Johnson Photo © The HistoryMakers and used with permission. |
The Josie R. Johnson Award was established in honor of Dr. Josie R. Johnson in recognition of her lifelong contributions to human rights and social justice, which guided her work with the civil rights movement, years of community service, and tenure at the University of Minnesota.
The award honors University of Minnesota faculty, staff, and students who, through their principles and practices, exemplify Dr. Johnson’s standard of excellence in creating respectful and inclusive living, learning, and working environments.
Nominees must be current faculty members, staff members, or students in good academic standing who are registered at the University of Minnesota during the semester the award is made. The selection committee is composed of current faculty, staff and students. The awards will be presented at the University of Minnesota’s Josie R. Johnson Human Rights and Social Justice Award and Outstanding Community Service Award Recognition Ceremony. A one-time stipend will be awarded to each recipient.
**Please note that the nomination period for the 2009 Johnson Award is now closed. Nominations for the 2010 award will open in January 2010.**
Nomination Guidelines
Both nominees and their nominators must be current faculty, staff, or students at the University. Self-nominations are not accepted. An application packet consists of the following items:
1. A letter of nomination.
2. The nominee’s current resumé or curriculum vitae.
3. Three letters of support documenting the nominee’s contributions to human rights and social justice.
The committee will also accept submission of eight copies of these optional materials: nominee’s written work, newspaper articles, testimonials, or any other information that would reflect the nominee’s values and personal commitment to human rights and social justice.
Nomination Information
The letter of nomination and the letters of support should keep in mind the following
selection criteria.
- Increasing educational or employment opportunities for individuals from underrepresented communities.
- Producing or presenting scholarly work, which significantly improves others’ understanding of the complex dynamics of difference in its various manifestations and multiple dimensions.
- Advocating for policy or procedural change designed to improve the learning and working environments for individuals from underrepresented communities.
- Developing and implementing initiatives that support individuals from underrepresented communities to develop skills, obtain knowledge, and establish support networks that are essential to promoting an inclusive community.
- Promoting the advancement of human rights and social justice through involvement on campus and/or in the external community.
- Demonstrating an ability and ongoing commitment to preparing and empowering others as effective advocates for social equality.
- Possessing an admirable strength of character that inspires others to continue personal development in the area of human rights and social justice. These are examples of work that the committee will be looking for as it reviews the nominations, but it is by no means an exhaustive list of possible avenues of service.
Note: The above list provides examples of work that the committee will be looking for as it reviews nominations, but it is by no means an exhaustive list of possible avenues of service.
Submit the nomination materials to:
Josie R. Johnson Human Rights
and Social Justice Award
Office for Equity and Diversity
432 Morrill Hall
100 Church Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Please direct questions regarding the nominations process to:
Barbara Chapin
612-626-7386
chapi001@umn.edu
Past Recipients of the Josie R. Johnson Award
2009
Susana Pelayo-Woodward
Director, Office of Cultural Diversity
University of Minnesota-Duluth
2008
Ananya Chatterjea
Associate Professor and Director of Dance
Department of Theatre Arts and Dance, College of Liberal Arts
Ross Neely
Graduate Student, Social Justice Education, College of Continuing Education
2007
Helen Kivnick, Ph.D.
Professor
School of Social Work, College of Education and Human Development
2006
Grant M. Anderson
Housing and Residential Life
Ora Hokes
Graduate Student, College of Education and Human Development
2005
Nan A. Skelton
Fellow, Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
Samuel O. Adegoke
Undergraduate, Carlson School of Management
2004
Rose M. Brewer, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
African American and African Studies Department
Juan C. Moreno
Diversity and Inclusion Specialist
University of Minnesota Extension Service
Professor
School of Social Work
Frederic W. Smith, Ph.D.
Coordinator, Community Development Programs
Center for Urban and Regional Affairs
Hubert H. Humphrey Center
Associate to the Director
Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
Robert A. Frame
Graduate Student
History Department
Jennifer Fischer
Law School
2003
Amos Deinard
Associate Professor
Department of Pediatrics
Christopher Dolan
Graduate Student
Hubert Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
2002
Janet McNeill Hively
College of Continuing Education
Senior Fellow and Coordinator
University of Minnesota
Vital Aging Initiative
Stepanie Chrismon
University of Minnesota, Morris
Undergraduate Student
Tinisha Johnson
University of Minnesota, Morris
Undergraduate Student
2001
Lisa Albrecht
Associate Professor
General College
Juliana Pegues
Undergraduate Student
College of Continuing Education
2000
John Wallace
Professor
College of Liberal Arts
Anne Cocalis
Undergraduate Student
College of Liberal Arts
1999
David V. Taylor
Dean
General College
Jacquelyn J. Geier
Graduate Student
Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
1998
Val Woodward
Professor
College of Biological Sciences
Cheryl Robertson
Doctoral Student
School of Nursing