January 2011—Michael Hames-García, department head and professor of ethnic studies at the University of Oregon, is one of four recent winners of UO’s 2011 Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards.
Hames-García is also a member of the advisory board of the Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies.
The other awardees were: MaryAnn Glant, an early childhood assistant in the College of Education’s Early Childhood CARES program; Tina Gutierez-Schmich, a professional development specialist in the UO Center on Diversity and Community; and biology professor Janis Weeks. The four were honored at the 2011 Martin Luther King, Jr., Awards Ceremony in late January for their commitment to making the UO campus “a welcoming place” and for “embodying King’s humanitarian spirit.” Given by the UO Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity in collaboration with the UO Department of Human Resources, the awards were presented during a reception featuring UO President Richard Lariviere and Charles Martinez, the university’s vice president for institutional equity and diversity.
The UO’s Martin Luther King, Jr., Award was originally established to honor under-recognized classified staff whose activities and achievements help make campus a welcoming place to live, work and learn. The award has since been expanded to include recognition of university faculty and officers of administration whose contributions to the campus community exceed job expectations and exemplify ideals associated with Martin Luther King, Jr.
Criteria for MLK award nominees include fostering a welcoming environment and embodying King’s humanitarian spirit; setting a caring example by building morale and showing compassion; working toward cultural diversity and awareness; promoting diversity, social justice and equity; and demonstrating moral courage, adherence to the principles of non-violence and dedication to the ideals of social harmony.