Nine honored with diversity awards

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UNM celebrated its guardians of diversity in Student Union Building ballrooms Friday morning.

In the fourth annual Presidential Luminaria Awards, University administrators recognized students, faculty, staff and organizations who exemplify equity and inclusion on campus. Nine awardees got one of the coveted trophies.

“These are very important, not just because of the effect that they have on UNM and its students,” said UNM Provost Chaouki Abdallah. “This connects us back to our community … These awards recognize individuals and organizations that have led the path of equity, inclusion and social justice.”

Two faculty members, two staff members and two students garnered an award. Southwest Creations was the community organization recipient of the Luminaria, while the annual Inclusive Excellence Award went to African American studies professor Jamal Martin.
In addition, Jennifer Gomez-Chavez, director of UNM’s Office of Student Academic Success, got the first ever Inclusion, Access and Student Success Award. Gomez-Chavez is also the director of the Unidos Project, a UNM program that aims to improve Latino student success on campus.

Gomez-Chavez said the award took her by surprise.

“I am truly honored to receive this award,” she said in her speech while crying. “Actually, I had no idea that I was getting this award … I had no idea I was going to come (to UNM) and be an educator. And it has been amazing. This is the best time of my life, helping students reach their potential.”

Claudia Mitchell, a senior studying Chicano studies who got one of the student Luminaria awards, said she was star-struck in the event.

“I’m proud of everybody that’s here,” she said. “I guess I’m more honored to be around all these special, incredible people.”
A first-generation college student, Mitchell said diversity is critical to UNM.

“We’re such an incredible state,” she said. “New Mexico is diverse. We have people from all types of backgrounds coming from everywhere. It’s important to include everybody.”

Gomez-Chavez said UNM should continue to spread its commitment to diversity and inclusion.

“The flame, sometimes it goes down to almost burn out,” she said. “But then it comes back again, and we just want to continue to keep that flame going. We still have a lot of work.”