Student, staff member presented with Diversity Awards

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Each year, the Office of Equity, Diversity and Community Engagement presents two Diversity Awards, one to a student and one to a faculty or staff member who have made extraordinary contributions to assist UT in celebrating a diverse university community.

The 2012 recipients are UT student Robert Spangler and Jeffery Witt, assistant dean of students and director of the Office of Recreation.

UT President Lloyd Jacobs and Lawrence J. Burns, vice president for external affairs, presented the awards at the town hall meeting last week.

“We are proud to have these two extraordinary men giving countless hours of their time to better our campus community,” Burns said. “Jeff and Robby embody our efforts to create a culture that welcomes all individuals and allows them the opportunity to excel in all facets of academic, social and professional life.”

Spangler, a senior with a dual major in urban studies and Spanish from Englewood, Ohio, received the 2012 UT Student Diversity Award for his efforts to help individuals who do not have a disability understand that individuals with disabilities are capable and independent, and to encourage them to feel comfortable working with those who have disabilities.

Spangler works in the Office of Equity, Diversity and Community Engagement, and has been a member of Student Government and served as a UT Cultural Ambassador.

The 2012 UT Faculty/Staff Diversity Award was given to Witt in recognition of an annual report he developed for all student organizations to highlight their cultures and his assistance in writing the curriculum for a student-employee leadership development class and mentoring program.

Witt is active on the President’s Council on Diversity and the President’s Lecture Series on Diversity and also is a member the UT Cultural Ambassadors.