Distinguished Affirmative Action Awards Presented

DISTINGUISHED AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AWARDS PRESENTED

     COLUMBUS -- Three professors, a dean, an undergraduate 
student and a graduate student who also is a staff member 
recently received The Ohio State University's 1995 
Distinguished Affirmative Action Award, recognizing their 
leadership and commitment to ensure equal opportunity and 
treatment for all members of the university community.

     The six awards were given May 25 during a presentation 
and reception at the Faculty Club.  Each recipient received 
a plaque and a $500 honorarium.

     The University Senate's Committee on Women and 
Minorities sponsors the awards in cooperation with the 
Office of Human Resources.

     The recipients are: 

     --Kathleen Koonce Clemons of MARION (43302), a junior 
majoring in social work at Ohio State's Marion campus.

     --Suzanne Damarin of COLUMBUS (43202), professor of 
education.

     --Leslie S. Jones of COLUMBUS (43214), research 
associate for the College of Food, Agricultural and 
Environmental Sciences.

     --Roy A. Koenigsknecht of WORTHINGTON (43235), dean of 
the Graduate School.

     --William E. Nelson Jr. of COLUMBUS (43209), professor 
of black studies.

     --Martha Welch Sucheston of COLUMBUS (43228), associate 
professor of cell biology, neurobiology and anatomy.

     Two years ago, Kathleen Koonce Clemons, a third-year 
supported undergraduate student at Ohio State's Marion 
campus, became involved in the formation of the Cultural 
Optimist Club. The club was structured to create a climate 
that heightens awareness and appreciation for cultural 
differences and promotes the regular and frequent 
interactions between cultures within both the University and 
the community. She also participated in mentorship programs 
within the Marion elementary schools and has helped to 
organize a multicultural student club in the middle school. 
A single mother of two sons who is pursuing a degree and 
somehow finding time to promote cultural diversity, she has 
been described as "a striking example of what makes this 
University great: an unwavering commitment to access and 
opportunities for individuals who have the ability and 
motivation to better themselves as they realize their 
commitment to the welfare of others."

     Suzanne Damarin has shown her commitment to affirmative 
action over the past 20 years through her contributions in 
teaching, research and other activities. As a professor of 
education, Damarin has attended to issues of 
multiculturalism in reading materials, analytical 
discussions and pedagogic strategies. Her scholarship has 
focused on perspectives and experiences of "misrepresented" 
cultures and groups as it comes to bear on thinking about 
math, science and technology. She has diligently served on 
numerous campus committees associated with improving the 
climate for women and minorities at the university, 
including the Women's Grassroot Network, the Senate 
Committee on Women and Minorities (which she chaired in 
1991-92 and 1992-93) and the President's Ad Hoc Committee on 
Diversity. As one of her nominators stated, "She invariably 
asks the hard questions... and stands firm in her advocacy 
for all under-represented groups on campus." 

     Leslie Sandra Jones, a graduate student and staff 
member in the College of Food, Agricultural and 
Environmental Sciences, "has done more single-handedly to 
advance the case of affirmative action in this college than 
any individual I know," a nominator said. She has worked 
tirelessly to provide opportunities in the college for 
minority students prior to and subsequent to their 
enrollment into the University. She has participated in the 
University Mentoring Program and received the Outstanding 
Professional Mentor award in 1994. She has shown a 
creativity and innovation in taking on projects that have 
made changes in both accessibility and climate. Jones has 
demonstrated a sense of "personal activism" and commitment 
to affirmative action that has continued to grow in scope 
and magnitude over the last several years. 

     As dean of the Graduate School for the past 10 years, 
Roy A. Koenigsknecht has uniformly and consistently 
supported he concept that graduate education should be 
accessible to all. During his tenure, minority graduate 
enrollment increased 44.5 percent since 1989 (with minority 
enrollments constituting 14.2 percent of graduate domestic 
enrollment), minority graduate school fellowship awards were 
maintained at one-third of the total awards, and the Summer 
Research Opportunities Program was created. In addition, he 
has supported the Critical Difference for Women Program, 
which aids women who are returning to college. He has been a 
national leader in minority graduate issues. His nominators 
have suggested that he is not one to take the limelight, but 
the efforts that have been developed under his leadership 
did not just happen; they occurred because Koenigsknecht 
cares and makes a commitment to allow these programs to 
flourish. 

     William E. Nelson Jr., professor of black studies and 
political science, has been instrumental in promotion of 
minority interests and climate throughout his 20 years at 
the university. He was a member of the original planning 
committee for the Department of Black Studies. As chair from 
1972-86, he shepherded the department from a division to a 
free-standing academic department. He was one of the driving 
forces behind the establishment of the department's radio 
program, The Black Studies Journal, and television program, 
Afromation. Nelson was one of the original architects of the 
Office of Minority Affairs and co-author of the original 
proposal to establish a black cultural center. As stated by 
one of his nominators, "Dr. Nelson is a mentor, a role model 
and an inspiration to the students of The Ohio State 
University. His selfless actions will leave a lasting legacy 
at the University and in the world. Many future scholars 
will owe their success, in part, to his willingness to give 
of himself." 

     Martha Welch Sucheston, associate professor of cell 
biology, neurobiology and anatomy, has been a driving force 
behind the College of Medicine's affirmative action 
activities over the past seven years. Through her hard work 
and vision, she has helped to develop the Medpath career 
program for under-represented and disadvantaged students. 
Beginning with a 1989 affirmative action grant, the program 
has now received $1.5 million in funding from the federal 
government, corporations and foundations. Sucheston's 
recruitment efforts reach into high schools to identify and 
encourage target population students. She has put in place 
programs to help to prepare undergraduate minority and 
disadvantaged students for the Medical College Entrance 
Exam. She has also developed post-baccalaureate programs to 
strengthen the science-based knowledge and study skills of 
minority and disadvantaged students prior to their entrance 
into medical school. She personally gives individualized 
attention to students, teaching by example the importance of 
hard work and reaching goals and by her willingness to take 
on new challenges.

                              #

Contact: Ned Cullom, Office of Human Resources,
         (614) 292-8993


[Submitted by: Von Reid-Vargas (ereid@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu)
               
Thu, 25 May 1995 21:07:38 -0400]
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