Faculty, Staff Honored as Leaders in Diversity

Duke’s Office for Institutional Equity recently honored a varied group of faculty and staff with its biannual Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Award, which highlights individual employees and teams making significant contributions to enhance diversity within the Duke community.

Four recipients received the spring 2014 EDI Award:

• Abdullah Antepli, Chief Representative of Muslim Affairs
• Dr. Kenyon Railey, Instructor at Duke Physician Assistant Program
• Duke International Nurses group
• Duke’s Academic Resource Center

“It’s important for us to recognize people who provide leadership around diversity since that’s such an important value for the university,” said Ben Reese, vice president for institutional equity. “It models the values of our institution.”

Reese said each award winner provides a key component to what makes Duke unique by making tangible commitments to strategies, projects and initiatives to highlight diversity at the university and health system.

Lee Baker, dean of academic affairs for the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, nominated the nine faculty and staff of the Academic Resource Center to highlight a long history of supporting Duke’s diverse student population, going back to 1985. In the past 20 years, the center has provided highly individualized support to thousands of undergraduates through initiatives like the Academic Skills Instructional Program, Peer Tutoring Program and the Program for Students with Disabilities.

Baker noted the center’s ability to serve about 80 students each year in gateway science courses, focusing on students historically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and math as well as the “1G Network,” a program that connects first generation/low income students with each other and to increase access to institutional resources and mentors.

“What motivates [Center staff] is a keen understanding that in order to grow and thrive, every student must feel a sense of belonging,” Baker wrote in his nomination. “It matters to us that they are here, and that we are deeply invested in each and every student's success and well-being.”

Also highlighted this year:

• Dr. Kenyon Railey received a nomination for his work to teach medical students about cultural competency and service as diversity strategist in the School of Medicine’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
• Duke International Nurses, a group for foreign-educated nurses in their professional transitions to Duke, was recognized for helping to bridge the cultural gap among Duke staff through quarterly meetings and hosting a multicultural fair to showcase diversity.
• Imam Abdullah Antepli was highlighted as the founding director of the university’s Center for Muslim Life and Duke’s first Muslim chaplain since 2008. Antepli also teaches Islam in the Duke Divinity School and has recently taken on a position as the university’s chief representative for Muslim affairs.

Faculty and staff gather to celebrate EDI Award winners. From left:

• Bob Crouch, Assistant Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, OIE
• Natavan Khan, Staff Assistant, Duke Center for Muslim Life
• Adeel Zeb, Muslim Chaplain 
• ZoilaAirall, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs
• Mahsa Emamian, Duke Department of Physics
• Ellen F. Davis, Professor, Duke Divinity School
• AsumanAntepli, Nurse at Duke Regional Hospital
• Omid Safi, Director of DISC (Duke Islamic Studies Center) and Professor of Islamic Studies
• Abdullah Antepli, Chief Representative of Muslim Affairs
• Eric Meyers, Professor of Religion, Director of The Center for Jewish Studies
• Carol Meyers, Professor of Religion, Duke Divinity School
• Keri Majikes, Program Coordinator, DISC
• Julie Harbin, Communications Specialist, DISC
• David Schanzer, Associate Professor Sanford School of Public Policy; Director, Triangle Center of Terrorism and Homeland Security
• Thomas G. Walker, U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of North Carolina