PACME Ceremony Illuminates Diversity Efforts

By Alexandra Klingelhut

Promoting diversity was the theme of this year’s Presidential Awards for Community Multicultural Enrichment (PACME). The annual awards ceremony, which was held April 9, celebrates individuals who have contributed to VCU’s commitment to diversity.

The PACME awards honor individuals or organizations in the VCU community from four groups: students, faculty, staff and administrators. Each recipient is given the award — along with $500 — with one recipient receiving an additional capstone award, the Riese-Melton. The $250 award is given for contributions to cross-cultural relations. It is named in honor of the late Dr. Walter Riese, a professor of psychiatry, and his employee, the late Herman Melton.

This year’s speakers were Michael Rao, Ph.D., president of VCU; Wanda Mitchell, Ph.D., vice president for diversity and equity; and Faith Wilkerson, interim director, Office of Multicultural Student Affairs. Musical selections were performed by The Black Awakening Choir, a collegiate ensemble.

“We have a university that in many ways is fortunate. We are touted as the most diverse university in the commonwealth, and that makes me happy in many ways,” said Rao, who presented recipients with their awards. “It also causes me to be thoughtful in other ways about the opportunities we have to become more diverse.”

Rao added that diversity allows people to come together as human beings, and that the VCU thrives because of the diversity of its population.

“If you ask students what they value most about VCU, one of the things that comes to the top of the list is diversity,” he said.

“We look forward to what VCU can be, as we continue to build on what makes VCU real.”

This year’s faculty award winner was Elizabeth Canfield, assistant professor in the Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, part of the College of Humanities and Sciences. Canfield is an activist for the LGBTQ community, both on and off campus. Her work through the VCU “Open Minds” project provides educational outreach to those incarcerated in local jails throughout the city. She also is the chair of VCU’s Lavender Graduation, which highlights the achievements of the student LGBTQ population.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the work we do together,” said Canfield. “So much of the work I do attempts to redefine what it means to make art, what it means to do activism, what it means to be a scholar, what it means to be a teacher and to blur those distinctions in order to make the work more meaningful—to push our work in new spaces.”

Canfield also was the winner of this year’s Riese-Melton Award.

This year’s staff award was given to Amy Heineman, registered nurse at the Security Care Clinic, a part of the VCU Health System. As an advocate of equal care and treatment of all inmates, Heineman provides medical care to those in need. She has brought together an effective community of physicians, nurses and corrections officers to provide the best care possible for inmates.

“I believe as a society we are morally and ethically obligated to them for at least basic health care,” said Heineman. “I treat my patients with respect and dignity and I insist that everyone do the same.”

Jeff Wing was the winner of the administrator award. Wing is the director of the national scholarship office and a member of the Honors College. He recruits diverse applicant pools for VCU scholarships. Wing also serves as a co-chair for Equality VCU, an advisory and advocacy body for the LGBTQ community and its allies.

Phillip Cunningham was this year’s student winner. Cunningham is a student in the Urban and Regional Studies and Planning program, which is part of the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs in the College of Humanities and Sciences. He serves as treasurer for the Students for a Democratic Society and president of Students for Social Action, through which he helped create a public knowledge series that addresses issues involving social justice, community organizing and diversity.

Cunningham visited South Africa in fall 2012 through a study abroad program to learn about social issues throughout rural parts of the country. He is locally involved with the Boys and Girls Club of Richmond.

The PACMEs were created by VCU’s fourth president, Eugene P. Trani, in 1994. The awards recognize and encourage individuals to promote civility, build the community, establish effective cross-cultural initiatives, advocate equity and provide an open and inclusive environment within the VCU community.

 

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