Each year, OISE and the Graduate and Professional Diversity Council present several awards to graduate and professional degree students who have demonstrated a strong commitment towards advancing efforts around diversity, inclusion, outreach, and student engagement. Additionally, we present awards to faculty, staff, and community members who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to promoting the growth and personal and professional development of graduate and professional students who represent the diversity of the Cornell community.

2023 Graduate Diversity and Inclusion Awards & Recognition Celebration

Date: 4:30 – 7:00 p.m. ET, May 16, 2023

Awards & Recognition Registration

Distinguished Award Categories

The following awards are given to graduate and professional students who have demonstrated strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, outreach, and student engagement. Any current graduate or professional degree student or recent graduate at Cornell University is eligible for these awards, except for the Faculty Champion Awards and the Unsung Hero Award. We encourage nominations from students, faculty, staff, and alumni. We also strongly encourage self-nominations.

Annual Nomination Priority Submission Date: April  11, 2023

Exemplary Service Awards for Early & Advanced Career Students

Awarded to students who have a demonstrated track record of exemplary service to the Cornell graduate and professional student community, especially in the areas of diversity, inclusion, outreach, and student engagement. Service might include but is not limited to efforts to build a stronger graduate and professional student community through peer mentorship and support, student advocacy, and support of student organizations. This award has two subcategories:

Early Career

Awarded to first year professional degree student (M.P.A., J.D., M.F.A., D.V.M., etc.) and research master’s degree students (M.S., M.A., etc.) and pre-A exam Ph.D. students at the time of nomination.

Advanced Career

Awarded to professional and research master’s degree students beyond their first year of study and post-A exam Ph.D. students at the time of nomination 

Excellence in Leadership Award

Awarded to student(s), group(s), or organization(s) that have shown a consistent and sustained ability to improve the graduate and professional student experience through leadership activities. Examples of leadership activities include, but are not limited to, leadership of student organizations, participation in student ambassador programs, involvement in the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, involvement in the Graduate and Professional Student Diversity Council, and involvement with other institutes, offices, or programs on campus.

Social Justice Award

Awarded to student(s), group(s) or organization(s) who have shown a commitment to identifying and addressing inequities, creating avenues of access, advancing diversity and inclusion, and/or promoting human rights within and/or beyond Cornell.

Community Outreach Award

Awarded to student(s), group(s) or organization(s) who have strengthened a community through efforts to build partnerships centered on meeting the needs identified by the community, and that increase student engagement, and provide opportunities for mutual learning and understanding.

Unsung Hero Award

Awarded to a staff member or other non-student or faculty member of the community who has gone above and beyond in their support of the success of Cornell’s graduate and professional degree students, especially as it relates to supporting their sense of belonging, overall well-being, progression, and achievement.

Faculty Champion Awards for Junior & Senior Faculty

Awarded to faculty members who have served as dedicated advocates to foster diversity, inclusion, and equity in higher education through exemplary mentorship, leadership, and/or outreach activities within the Cornell community. Those who receive this award have shown an unwavering commitment to promoting the growth and personal and professional development of graduate and professional students who represent the diversity of the Cornell community. This award has two subcategories: 

Junior Faculty

Awarded to an assistant professor to recognize immediate and significant contributions.

Senior Faculty

Awarded to an associate or full professor to recognize their ongoing and significant contributions.

OISE Diversity & Inclusion Change Agent Award

Awarded to an individual, organization, or initiative that has achieved significant impact within the Cornell graduate community by advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion. Recipients of this award further the mission of the Office of Inclusion and Student Engagement:

To advance efforts to make graduate education and postdoctoral experiences more accessible to scholars from marginalized communities and backgrounds historically underrepresented within the academy.

To employ evidence-based practices to engage graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty, and other partners in creating a more inclusive campus environment that supports the academic and social sense of belonging of all graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

To provide collaborative professional, academic, and community development opportunities that facilitate the progression and achievement of all graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, but especially those from backgrounds historically underrepresented within the academy.