Stanford Report, June 7, 2013

At Stanford, three winners honored with 2013 President's Awards for Excellence Through Diversity

By Kathleen J. Sullivan

A professor in the School of Engineering praised for "many years of leadership and advocacy for equity and diversity in engineering" and a professor in the School of Medicine commended for "creative and consistent efforts to recruit and retain women and underrepresented minorities" each recently received a 2013 President's Award for Excellence Through Diversity.

The ASSU Community Action Board, a coalition of student representatives from across campus committed to building connections across communities and identities, also received a 2013 President's Award for Excellence Through Diversity. The board was established in 2012 as a permanent institution of the Associated Students of Stanford University (ASSU).

President John Hennessy presented the awards at a private ceremony earlier this week.

This year's individual winners are Robert M. Gray, the Alcatel-Lucent Technologies Professor in Communications and Networking in the School of Engineering, Emeritus, and professor emeritus of electrical engineering; and Hannah A. Valantine, MD, professor of medicine (cardiovascular) at the Stanford University Medical Center, and senior associate dean for diversity and leadership in the School of Medicine.

Hennessy noted that Gray, who was unable to attend the event, had received his award in May at an electrical engineering symposium. Hennessy presented the award to Valantine, and to students Holly Fetter and Aracely Mondragon, who accepted the award on behalf of the ASSU Community Action Board.

They are the fifth set of recipients of the awards, which were established in 2009 to recognize and honor individuals and programs that have made exceptional contributions to enhancing and supporting diversity within the campus community.

Robert M. Gray

Gray was honored "for many years of leadership and advocacy for equity and diversity in engineering."

The award citation commended him "for his intentional and focused efforts to create a respectful and nurturing environment for young engineers."

Gray was honored "for his commitment to mentoring women in engineering that has resulted in many from Stanford now being on the electrical engineering faculty of the top schools in the nation."

Gray was commended "for being recognized nationally by a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring."

Gray was honored "for encouraging deep and sustained collaboration among his students, treating them as equals and building a strong professional network that is self-sustaining."

The award also commended Gray "for immersing himself in research related to gender issues – particularly as it applies to the under-representation of women in engineering – and for sharing that knowledge with his colleagues."

Finally, Gray was honored "for giving women a place where they could focus on their work, always recognizing their talents and especially for giving them full credit for what they accomplished."

Hannah A. Valantine

Valantine was honored "for establishing innovative programs to support diversity of the medical school faculty, including a vibrant program of workshops, the Faculty Fellows Program and the Women Faculty Networking Group."

The award citation commended Valantine "for mentoring the next generation of medical school leaders through the Physician/Faculty Leadership Development Program."

Valantine was honored "for her national leadership on diversity in academic medicine and participation in the Association of American Medical Colleges' Mid-Career Development Workshop and for chairing and serving as a leader at National Institutes of Health-sponsored workshops."

The award commended Valantine "for her creative and consistent efforts to recruit and retain women and underrepresented minorities, contributing to a significant increase in the number of women with the rank of full professor at the medical school."

ASSU Community Action Board

The ASSU Community Action Board was honored "for creative and consistent efforts to build bridges across the many diverse communities at Stanford."

The award citation commended the board "for leadership in offering interesting opportunities for diverse student groups to discuss shared and distinct identities, creating an environment in which meaningful friendships develop among communities that do not usually interact."

The board was honored "for facilitating and promoting collaboration and cooperation among the leaders of diverse campus communities," and "for designing and teaching the course Active Allies: Building Empathetic and Actionable Leadership in the Program in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity."

The award commended the board "for educating our future leaders in effective ways to approach issues of diversity and to be more mindful in supporting all communities."

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