Nominations sought for 2011 Isaac L. Jordan Faculty/Staff Diversity Award

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Michelle Cometa

Cassandra Jordan, left, presented the Isaac L. Jordan Faculty Staff Diversity Award to Renee Baker last spring. The award, named after her late husband, Isaac, is a tribute to his memory and his focus on pluralism and inclusion among the campus community. It is given to individuals, like Baker, who have followed in his footsteps.

Nominations are being accepted for the 2011 Isaac L. Jordan Sr. Faculty/Staff Pluralism Award, an annual recognition given to an RIT faculty or staff member who advances diversity efforts and pluralism on campus and in the community. RIT President Bill Destler announced that for the first time the honor will include a monetary award of $1,000 in addition to the statuette and community recognition.

“In an effort to further emphasize diversity as a valued institutional and community principle, a monetary gift will now accompany the prestigious Isaac L. Jordan Faculty/Staff Award,” Destler explains. “The desired objective is to further affirm the value of a pluralistic community because it enriches our lives and the university.”

“With the pending retirement of Cassandra Jordan, an iconic pillar of strength and carrier of Isaac’s pluralistic spirit in our community, this monetary enhancement ensures that the spirit, the legacy and the stature of the Isaac L. Jordan Award will live on in the hearts and minds of community members for generations to come,” Destler adds.

Isaac Jordan, who served as chair from 1990 until his passing in 1994, was also an assistant professor in RIT’s College of Continuing Education (now called the Center for Multidisciplinary Studies). He was pastor of Faith United Methodist Church in Rochester, a board member with Genesee Neighborhood Settlement and founder of the community organization Dads Only Inc.

A nomination packet is available and must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. Feb. 15, 2011, to Matthew Lynn, chairperson of the award committee and NTID assistant professor of chemistry, via e-mail to malntm@rit.edu or through interoffice mail: Gosnell Hall, room A168. Nominees should be positive role models for pluralism and inclusiveness on campus and also in the broader community. Self-nominations are welcomed. 

Previous winners of the Jordan Award are Albert Simone, past RIT president; Sarah Reynolds, outreach/user services coordinator, Wallace Library; Keith Jenkins, associate professor of communications, College of Liberal Arts; Peter Hauser, professor, research and education department, NTID; James Watters, senior vice president, Finance and Administration; Howard Ward, assistant vice president, Student Auxiliary Services, Finance and Administration; Thomas Warfield, lecturer in cultural and creative studies, NTID, and Renee Baker, executive director, faculty recruitment and retention, Academic Affairs.