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Columns::April 21, 2003
Honors and Awards
UGA’s top students and teachers recognized at Honors Day ceremony
University hosts state championship for future problem solvers
The greening of South Campus
Flower(ing) power: UGA scientists plot key events in plant evolution
Office of Research Services appoints a new director
On-the-job training: Engineers team up with businesses for new designs
Lifelong interest in animals leads prof to career as wildlife biologist
Retirees
Kudos
Forum essay: International education
Making a scene
Across the board
Campus News
Education dean receives diversity award from housing residents
By Michael Childs
mchilds@coe.uga.edu
Louis Castenell, dean of UGA’s College of Education, was selected by a student committee representing university housing
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Louis Castenell
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residents to receive this year’s Pedro Zamora Horizon Award for his efforts toward increasing diversity awareness at the university and in the Athens community.
The annual award was created in 1995 to acknowledge a public figure whose work exemplifies a strong commitment to the spirit of diversity. The award was named in honor of the cast member of MTV’s Real World who died of AIDS. He was outspoken in urging people to be advocates for reason, understanding and change. Past winners of the award include Vanessa Williams-Smith, Vernon Wall, William A. Kretzschmar and the African-American Choral Ensemble.
The award was presented to Castenell April 10 during the 11th annual celebration of DAWG Days--Diversity Awareness Week at Georgia.
Castenell was appointed UGA’s interim associate provost for diversity in July 2001 and served in that position for 14 months while continuing as dean. During his tenure in the diversity position, Castenell worked with a large and diverse advisory group to design a consensus report that now serves as the long-range strategic plan for diversity efforts at UGA.
In the education college, Castenell has created the Office of Educator Partnerships and spearheaded a partnership with the Clarke County School District that has established community learning centers in two elementary schools with high African-American and Latino populations. The two schools have an extended, year-round calendar and faculties from across the UGA campus are working with them to reform the educational opportunities for both teachers and students.
Castenell was also instrumental in obtaining a $3.5 million grant from the Goizueta Foundation to support activities related to Hispanic education. As part of the grant, a chair in Latino education will be established, a Center for Latino Achievement and Success in Education has been created, and a scholarship fund will support both undergraduate and graduate students fluent in Spanish.
Castenell has also worked to establish contractual agreements with historically black colleges and universities in Georgia to facilitate students transfers and graduate enrollment. The goal is to recruit the best and brightest African-American students. One result of this effort is that UGA departments in adult education and higher education have been working with three HBCUs to create a collaborative doctoral program for current and future faculty and administrators at the HBCUs. Faculty at UGA and Fort Valley State University are currently seeking funds to support this program.
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