Dedication to Social Justice and Liberation Award

This campaign has concluded, but if you would like to still make a gift to support the Dedication to Social Justice and Liberation Award please click here.

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"There have been few reasons to celebrate amid a year marked by a deadly global pandemic and a deadly crisis for persons of color in the United States emanating from long-standing injustices. Thus, I enthusiastically support the inaugural launch of the Social Justice and Liberation Award. This award embodies the collective Department of Educational Psychology (EPSY) values of advancing diversity, inclusiveness, and equity across all aspects of our education. I am deeply appreciative of the leadership of our graduate students who envisioned and brought to fruition this Social Justice and Liberation Award—thank you." Dr. David Hansen, Department Chair 

Throughout our nation’s history, there have been individuals, groups, and institutions of privilege that have used their power to create systems that actively subjugate, discriminate and exploit marginalized individuals. This award’s purpose is threefold: (1) to encourage action (including but not limited to policy, reform, consultation, teaching, research, and fundraising) that actively works to dismantle unjust systems; (2) to reward the changes that the action has created by spreading awareness; and (3) to give appreciation to the individual who exhibited the leadership, creativity and scholastic work connected to that action. By reaching our goal of $5,000 we will be able to provide one $500 award for the next 10 years.

Thus, epitomizing the values held by EPSY and outlined by the Department’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion statement:

• Foster a new generation of leaders who appreciate the value of unique identities and experiences
• Forge relationships between and among groups and people of different backgrounds
• Create an environment that accepts and celebrates difference
• Acknowledge and address intolerance and insensitivity, even when it may not directly impact a member of our community
• Actively promote democracy, diversity, equity, and justice in education and in research