Unseen impacts
The new Achievements in Climate and Inclusion awards were created to commend and inspire faculty's dedication to climate and inclusion.
By Alix P ’18
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
We need people who champion inclusion, respect, worth—values that enhance the lives of others. Some of the time, however, fostering these values is done behind the scenes, unseen.
The College of Liberal Arts wants to recognize and celebrate the unseen advocates of the well-being of all people—which is exactly what the new “Achievements in Climate and Inclusion” (ACI) awards will do.
The ACI awards recognize College of Liberal Arts faculty members that regularly engage in efforts designed to “facilitate a more welcoming and inclusive climate for all.” When people of underrepresented groups have troubling experiences they desire to process with a trusted person, they often go to faculty members they feel could relate. This award is to account for, commend, and inspire more of the invisible labor that occurs under the radar.
“This ‘invisible labor’ by certain faculty helps uncounted numbers of people every day,” Leroy G. Dorsey, associate dean for Inclusive Excellence and Strategic Initiatives, said. “We want to recognize faculty members that take on this extra burden to help other faculty, staff, and students from underrepresented populations process the sometimes disconcerting nature of their lived experiences here on campus.”
Leadership, continuous performance, innovation and impact, and mentoring are the parameters that the ACI awards seek to distinguish—faculty members that labor unheralded to make a climate conducive for the success of every single person at Texas A&M University.
The first awards will be given to faculty members in Spring of 2019, which includes recognitions in most departments and two overarching college-wide awards.
The College of Liberal Arts is dedicated to climate and diversity, and the ACI awards demonstrate our belief that an institution only thrives when all are treated with respect and inclusion.
Learn more about the ACI awards here.