VCU Honors Those Who Promote Diversity

By Leila Ugincius

There’s a vast difference between talking about the importance of diversity and actually implementing it into everyday life. The leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University values that difference and each year commends faculty, staff and students with the Presidential Awards for Community Multicultural Enrichment for their efforts in promoting diversity at the university.

“Although the university in many of its corners talks about diversity, the most important aspect of diversity is that authentication,” said VCU President Michael Rao.” And that is what we will be celebrating today – the people who advance diversity at VCU.”

Rao and Beverly J. Warren, Ed.D., Ph.D., FACSM, interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, presented the annual PACME awards during a ceremony on April 13, in the University Student Commons.

The PACMEs recognize university and health system members who have contributed significantly to multicultural relations and diversity. Each year a PACME — and $500 — is awarded to an individual or organization in each of four groups: faculty, administrators, staff and students. In addition, one recipient earns the Riese-Melton Award, a capstone award that includes an additional $250. The administrator award was not given this year.

Faculty award winners were Dr. Cheryl Al-Mateen of the School of Medicine and Dr. Tawnya Pettiford-Wates of the School of the Arts. Al-Mateen has taken special interest in identifying ways to improve cultural competency awareness and education. She is dedicated to enhancing teaching research and service to uphold and honor diversity in the VCU community and providing students with peer and mentor support. Pettiford-Wates, who also won this year’s Riese-Melton Award, integrates ideals and fostering open dialogue in the areas of justice inclusion, cross-cultural awareness and equality.

The staff award went to the School of Medicine’s Tima Smith. A registered nurse at the VCU Infectious Disease Clinic, Smith made a complete career change to work with HIV-infected children. She exemplifies a life of service to those who are less fortunate.

Medical student Kate Di Pasquale accepted the student award on behalf of the student organization Honduras Outreach Medical Brigada Relief Effort. Each year a small group of first-year medical students is selected to work alongside VCU faculty providing medical services and health care education to underserved, rural populations in Honduras. HOMBRE team members work in health care clinics or on public health projects geared to improve villagers’ quality of life.

“I’m also very proud of what you all do at this institution. So much of what you bring to this institution really is critical because it’s culture, it’s lasting. It has incredible impact on this institution,” Rao said.