Nominations for the 2009 Lillian H. Williams Award
TO: University Staff and Faculty
FROM: Kimberly Hewitt Boyd, Director, Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
RE: Lillian H. Williams Award
The Office for Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action invites nominees for the Lillian H. Williams Award. This award is named in honor of Lillian H. Williams, the founding director of the University of Minnesota’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, and was established in 1986 to recognize individuals and units within the University community who exemplify Ms. William’s spirit and commitment to equal opportunity and affirmative action. Ms. Williams served as the director from 1972 until her death in 1984. She has been described as a “natural negotiator, creative strategist, and idealistic, yet pragmatic agent for change.” She developed a national presence as one of the founding organizers of the American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA). One of her greatest challenges during her time at the University was responding to and testifying in the Rajender trial, a class action discrimination lawsuit brought by a group of women at the University in 1979.
We are seeking individuals and units that have shown their commitment through the education of the community on issues and topics related to equity, diversity and the struggle against discrimination and harassment. In addition, we are seeking individuals and units that can show deep involvement in an initiative that supports EOAA’s goal of promoting a University culture where students, staff and faculty succeed professionally and thrive educationally.
Please provide a one paragraph nomination of an individual or unit for this important award to Richard Kronstedt (krons002@umn.edu) in the Office for Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action by April 22, 2009. The staff of the EOAA Office will review the nominations and select an award recipient. Please describe how your nominee’s work is consistent with the qualities described above.
The recipient of the award will be announced on May 14, 2009 at the EOAA Spring Liaison Conference. In addition the recipient’s name will be engraved on a plaque and posted in the EOAA Office with the names of past award recipients.
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Kimberly Hewitt Boyd
Director
274 McNamara Alumni Center
Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
200 Oak St. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Phone: 612/624-9547
email: boyd0009@umn.edu
Updated 04/15/2009