Distinguished Diversity Enhancement Awards

INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS RECEIVE DIVERSITY ENHANCEMENT AWARDS

COLUMBUS -- Four individuals and three organizations are 
recipients of the 1998 Distinguished Diversity Enhancement Awards 
at The Ohio State University.

The awards recognize extraordinary efforts of an individual 
or group to widen opportunities and programs for minority groups.  
The program, now in its 16th year, rewards significant commitment 
to supporting women, minorities, Vietnam-era veterans, disabled 
veterans, people with disabilities and a deeper diversity -- one 
that encompasses differences in experiences.

Recipients were honored at a reception May 26 and received a 
plaque and a $500 honorarium.  Recipients are nominated by 
faculty, staff, students and/or community members.  The 
University Senate Committee on Diversity sponsors the awards 
program in cooperation with the Office of Human Resources.

The recipients are David E. Harrison of COLUMBUS (43231), 
director of minority student services for the Fisher College of 
Business; Noraini Idris of COLUMBUS (43229), a graduate student 
in education; Renee J. Miller, assistant professor of computer 
and information science; Okey L. Onyejekwe, associate professor 
of African-American and African Studies and director of the 
Center for African Studies; the Department of Community 
Development; the Diop Historical Society; and the Minority 
Engineering Program.

David E. Harrison
director of minority student services for the Fisher College of 
Business

 "David's slogan is 'Together we can make a difference,' but 
no one exemplifies the individual spirit of commitment and energy 
of leadership more than he does himself," wrote David Harrison's 
nominator.  Harrison has been instrumental in the encouragement 
and development of minority students at Ohio State, particularly 
within the Fisher College of Business.  Harrison is a recipient 
of several awards for his efforts, including the 1996 Hispanic 
Business Student Association Outstanding Service Award and the 
1994 Council of Black Students in Administration Outstanding 
Faculty/Staff Award.  His work beyond the university includes 
playing a strong leadership role in promoting university 
participation in the 1997 College Fund/UNCF Walk-A-Thon, a year 
in which donations were significantly raised from previous 
levels.

Noraini Idris, 
graduate student in education

Noraini Idris helps students at Indianola Middle School 
through "Go for Success," a program she organized that is 
designed to help minority students and others succeed 
academically and socially.  All of the nearly 20 students in the 
program are now in the Honor Roll Achievement for the first and 
second grading periods.  Idris has generated support from several 
sectors for her project.  "With this program she has successfully 
managed to involve teachers, parents and Ohio State students from 
all walks of life to work together," her nominator wrote.  Idris, 
an international student who came to the United States with her 
family in 1995, also serves as chair for the Indianola Middle 
School Community Advisory Board and is an active volunteer for 
the school.  "She always demonstrates an encouraging attitude and 
works with diverse cultural backgrounds by joining organizations, 
giving workshops and serving on committees," wrote her nominator. 

Renee J. Miller, 
assistant professor of computer and information science

Renee Miller is a scholar who not only studies problems, but 
works to solve them.  After conducting a yearlong study on the 
educational environment for women and minorities in her 
department, she developed a program that includes a number of 
specific activities, each targeted at a specific point in the 
educational process when minority students drop out of the 
academic pipeline.  The program includes merit-based graduate 
fellowships, forgivable loans for students with a long-term 
commitment to Ph.D. study and postdoctoral academic work, and  
faculty coupons for students who accept faculty positions to 
provide start-up funding for programs and labs.  "It is clear 
that Professor Miller is, herself, an excellent role model for 
the students," wrote one nominator.  In addition, Miller also has 
been responsible for sponsoring and advising Women in Computer 
Science and Minorities in Computer Science and advising Phi Sigma 
Ro, the university's chapter of the national sorority for women 
in engineering.

Okey L. Onyejekwe Sr., 
associate professor of African-American and African Studies and 
director of the Center for African Studies

Okey Onyejekwe believes that the common thread uniting every 
country is the key to generating peace.  "Every day, he 
challenges his colleagues and students to broaden the scope of 
their thinking and reason with a global frame of mind," wrote his 
nominators.  Onyejekwe devotes much of his time to efforts to 
bring diverse people together.  He served as a United Nations 
election monitor in the 1994 South African elections to abolish 
apartheid.  He has served in a similar capacity in Bosnia-
Herzegovina for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in 
Europe, working to establish peace and democracy in Bosnia and 
neighboring regions.  At Ohio State, Onyejekwe has hosted various 
seminars and luncheons encouraging open dialogue between 
Africans, African Americans and non-Africans.  He also has 
initiated a coalition between the Center for African Studies and 
the Center for Slavic and East European Studies and is giving his 
assistance to a conference addressing the commonalties between 
war-torn Rwanda and war-torn Bosnia.

Department of Community Development

The Department of Community Development for the University 
Medical Center reaches out in partnership with many community 
organizations to improve the quality of living for minorities and 
women throughout Columbus.  Community Development participates 
with several Asian organizations in the Asian Health Initiative 
with a goal to overcome cultural and linguistic barriers to 
health care for Asian Americans with limited English skills and 
little or no insurance.  A cancer-prevention project, "A 
Gathering for Women," was developed by Community Development with 
the goal of increasing compliance with screening guidelines for 
women over 40 in the African-American, Appalachian, Asian and 
Hispanic/Latino communities.  Community Development also has 
collaborated with the Columbus public schools and the Franklin 
County Educational Services Center to identify and recruit 
students with disabilities who are at risk of dropping out of 
school.  The School to Work for Youth with Disabilities Project 
strives to provide school and work-based learning and connecting 
activities to ensure a successful transition to adult life.

Diop Historical Society

The Diop Historical Society was founded in 1988 by graduate 
students in the Department of History as a forum for promoting 
the study of African and African-American history.  In addition, 
the organization promotes the professional development and 
advancement of African-American scholars.  Diop Society members 
participate in fall graduate student orientation and help with 
graduate and professional school visitation days, sponsored by 
the Office of Minority Affairs.  The society's recruiting efforts 
prompted one nominator to write: "Whatever success we have in 
recruiting African-American graduate students comes, I think, in 
large part from what the Diop Society does to enhance the climate 
of diversity in the department and to provide ongoing support for 
African-American students."  Members volunteer to help the 
society sponsor academic events, such as lectures and 
presentations, and social events.  "As a graduate-student-
founded-and-run organization," wrote one nominator, "the Diop 
Society epitomizes the kind of effort that makes a real 
difference in our University community."

Minority Engineering Program

For many students, the relationship with the Minority 
Engineering Program starts even before their first year at Ohio 
State.  MEP sponsors Preface, a six-week summer program in which 
students are prepped for college-level chemistry, physics, 
calculus and engineering graphics.  Once on campus, students can 
seek the academic advising help of Ruby Smith, program 
coordinator, or take advantage of tutors in the program -- both 
services designed to help retain minority engineers.  MEP 
acknowledges the accomplishments of minority students and awards 
scholarships at an annual banquet.  MEP staff members also have 
been instrumental in developing minority engineering groups, such 
as the Organization of Hispanic Students in Engineering and 
Architecture and the Black Undergraduate Engineering Council.  "I 
greatly appreciate the efforts of this group for sticking their 
necks out for me and many others on campus," wrote one nominator.  
"They work hard to accomplish their goal, which is to help the 
minority engineering students accomplish their goals."

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Contact:  Ned Cullom, Human Resources, (614) 292-4341