The award is open to Senate faculty members. 

The main criteria are extraordinary accomplishments in leadership, innovation, initiatives, and creativity related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in research or teaching at UCLA. These accomplishments may include scholarship that has made a significant and lasting impact on diversity in their field; demonstrated excellence in teaching and mentoring a diverse student body; established curricula and developed teaching methods that are especially inclusive and interactive; created solid, lasting, and meaningful partnerships with community groups and organizations that have a significant impact on the diversity of Los Angeles and surrounding communities.

The Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will select award recipients in the Spring quarter, and recipients will be notified shortly thereafter.

The nomination period will run from March 10, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. to March 31, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.

Nominations may be submitted electronically via the Data Management System (DMS). To submit your nomination, please log in using your UCLA ID to access the Awards page in DMS. The nomination should include: 

1. A nomination letter no longer than two pages. This letter is critical; it should describe what makes the candidate’s leadership, innovation, initiatives and creativity in diversity in research and teaching at UCLA distinguished as opposed to good or merely adequate. The nomination letter must come from a Senate faculty member. The letter should contain a description of the contributions of the candidate relevant to the award description listed above.
2. Between one and three letters of support (maximum of two pages each) describing the candidate’s accomplishments. The letters of support may come from faculty, staff, students, or administrators.

If you have questions, please contact senateoffice@senate.ucla.edu. 

2025-26 Recipients

Robert Eagle
Institute of the Environment & Sustainability,    
Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, UCLA

Lauren Ng
Department of Psychology, UCLA

All Past Recipients 

Academic Senate faculty are eligible for this award.

• Sustained and effective participation on Los Angeles Division standing committees (including the faculty executive committees) and/or
• A particularly outstanding contribution to a specific issue.

A selection committee comprised of the Immediate Past Chair, Committee on Committees Chair, and Executive Director will select the award recipient(s).

2025-26 Recipients

Leisy Abrego
Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies

Scott Brandenberg
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Only Academic Senate faculty at Associate or Full Rank and who are not emeriti are eligible for this award. Faculty who have chaired Senate committees are eligible for this award, but former and present members of Senate Leadership are not.

Criteria includes:

• Sustained and effective participation on Los Angeles Division standing committees (including the faculty executive committees) and/or
• A particularly outstanding contribution to a specific issue.

A selection committee comprised of the Immediate Past Chair, Committee on Committees Chair, and Executive Director will select the award recipient(s).

Recipients of the award will be displayed here.

Only Academic Senate faculty at Associate or Full rank, including emeriti professors, are eligible for this award.

Criteria includes demonstration of a distinguished contribution to the LA Division of the UC Academic Senate, defined as service that:

• Leads to the betterment of the academic mission of research and teaching,
• Reflects a deep commitment to both the principles and the practices of shared governance, and
• Has had a last and significant impact.

A selection committee comprised of the Immediate Past Chair, Committee on Committees Chair, and Executive Director will select an annual award recipient.

2025-26 Recipients

Michael Meranze
Department of History, UCLA

All Past Recipients