Grants Awarded to Faculty, Staff for Diversity Enhancement
The President's Diversity Advisory Council (PDAC) has announced the winners of the first grants of a pilot program of small grants to support programs, projects, or events whose primary purpose is to enhance the campus climate for diversity. Three faculty and three administrators received $2,200 total for four projects.
Dr. Maurie Luetkemeier, professor of exercise and health science, received $500 for a drumming workshop featuring Ryan Edward, founder of Like Water Drumworks of Chelsea. The grant approval letter stated (the workshop) "has the potential not only to inspire the community to learn about West African culture, but to attract people from all sectors of the 'Town and Gown' community." Leutkemeier has been conducting Preterm classes on therapeutic drumming.
Drs. Joanne Gilbert, associate professor of communication, and Laura von Wallmenich, assistant professor of English, collaborated on a $750 grant to fund a field trip to the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills. The field trip is intended to facilitate students' ability to think critically about the dangers inherent in any rhetoric of hate, and that students will be encouraged to extend the lessons learned beyond the classroom.
Phiwa Langeni, information technology associate office administrator, received a $500 grant to create a program to explore South African culture and its connections to Alma. Members of PDAC stated "Of all the proposals that were submitted, your's not only came closest to the spirit and purpose of the grant program, but it was the most thoughtful and professionally prepared as well."
Anne Ritz, service learning coordinator, and Juliann Schaffer, AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer, intend to continue the popular campus book discussion groups concept exploring issues of race through the respected and thought provoking Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum. They received $450.
The final projects will be evaluated by PDAC through anonymous evaluation forms from participants. Grant recipients also have the opportunity to share their projects at Honors Day.
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Posted: Mon, February 6th, 2006 at 1:18PM
