2025 All-University Diversity Awards

Ruben Daniels Community Service Award
Dr. Byungil Ahn
Professor of History
The Ruben Daniels Community Service Award was first given in 1993. It represents the university’s highest recognition of employee community involvement and is named for the late Ruben Daniels, a Saginaw community leader.

Roosevelt Ruffin Diversity Award
Pastor Kareem Bowen 

The Roosevelt Ruffin Diversity Award is named for the late Dr. Ruffin, who served as SVSU’s director of Multicultural Programs and Affirmative Action. This award was created in 2005 to recognize SVSU individuals or groups who have demonstrated diversity leadership and creativity. Team One Credit Union is the sponsor of this award.

Global Diversity Award
Dr. Julie Foss
Professor of Modern and Foreign Languages
The Global Diversity Award recognizes the extension of SVSU’s impact from the Great Lakes Bay Region to the global community. This award represents the university’s highest acknowledgment of global leadership and service by SVSU faculty, staff, student groups and other individuals associated with the campus community.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Research Award
Dr. Paul Teed
Professor of History
The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Research Award recognizes SVSU faculty who made a significant and/or long-standing contribution to the advancement of research or practice in the field of diversity, equity and inclusion.

2024 All-University Diversity Awards

Ruben Daniels Community Service Award
Dr. Jesse Donahue
Professor of Political Science
The Ruben Daniels Community Service Award was first given in 1993. It represents the university’s highest recognition of employee community involvement and is named for the late Ruben Daniels, a Saginaw community leader.

Roosevelt Ruffin Diversity Award
Jennifer Pahl
Director of Admissions, SVSU
The Roosevelt Ruffin Diversity Award is named for the late Dr. Ruffin, who served as SVSU’s director of Multicultural Programs and Affirmative Action. This award was created in 2005 to recognize SVSU individuals or groups who have demonstrated diversity leadership and creativity. Team One Credit Union is the sponsor of this award.

Global Diversity Award
Dr. David Nichols
Associate Professor of Philosophy
The Global Diversity Award recognizes the extension of SVSU’s impact from the Great Lakes Bay Region to the global community. This award represents the university’s highest acknowledgment of global leadership and service by SVSU faculty, staff, student groups and other individuals associated with the campus community.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Research Award
Dr. Kathleen Schachman
Endowed Professor of Nursing
The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Research Award recognizes SVSU faculty who made a significant and/or long-standing contribution to the advancement of research or practice in the field of diversity, equity and inclusion.

2023 All-University Diversity Awards

Ruben Daniels Community Service Award
Rosina Hassoun
Associate Professor of Sociology
The Ruben Daniels Community Service Award was first given in 1993. It represents the university’s highest recognition of employee community involvement and is named for the late Ruben Daniels, a Saginaw community leader.

Roosevelt Ruffin Diversity Award
Veronika Drake
Associate Professor of English
The Roosevelt Ruffin Diversity Award is named for the late Dr. Ruffin, who served as SVSU’s director of Multicultural Programs and Affirmative Action. This award was created in 2005 to recognize SVSU individuals or groups who have demonstrated diversity leadership and creativity. Team One Credit Union is the sponsor of this award.

Global Diversity Award
Danilo Sirias
Professor of Management
The Global Diversity Award recognizes the extension of SVSU’s impact from the Great Lakes Bay Region to the global community. This award represents the university’s highest acknowledgment of global leadership and service by SVSU faculty, staff, student groups and other individuals associated with the campus community.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Research Award
Sara Beth Keough
Professor of Geography
Scott Youngstedt
Professor of Anthropology
The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Research Award recognizes SVSU faculty who made a significant and/or long-standing contribution to the advancement of research or practice in the field of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Encouraging & Recognizing Service

The SVSU Board of Control first adopted a “Statement on Cultural Diversity” in 1991, within that statement read "... the University must reaffirm its commitment to equality of opportunity by creating and nurturing, by leadership and example, an environment of genuine understanding and appreciation for differences among peoples..."  Through service, leadership and outreach programming, SVSU is delivering on this objective.