UIC Office of Diversity honors 2024 community engagement awardees
The UIC Office of Diversity, Equity & Engagement (ODEE) recently announced the 2024 awardees and honorable mention for the UIC Community Engagement Award. This award was created to honor dedicated faculty for their achievements in areas of community-based research, scholarship, service and teaching that addresses critical community needs, supports community advancement and promotes collaboration among UIC and its community partners.
The 2024 UIC Community Engagement senior awardee was Nadine Naber, PhD, associate professor in the UIC Departments of Gender and Women’s Studies and Global Asian Studies in the UIC College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Dr. Naber is celebrated for her exceptional skill in bridging the worlds of academia and community activism, evidenced by a prolific set of academic publications along with deeply collaborative relationships with Arab American and immigrant communities in Chicago and beyond.
The Emerging awardee was Eduardo E. Bustamante, PhD, assistant professor of kinesiology and nutrition in the UIC College of Applied Health Sciences. Dr. Bustamante is celebrated for his applied research and community collaborations focused on the role of physical activity and nutrition in improving children’s mental health, with particular emphasis on Latinx and African American children with ADHD.
Honorable Mention was given to April Jackson, PhD, associate professor of urban planning and policy in the UIC College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs. Dr. Jackson is celebrated for her team-based, inclusive approaches to urban planning, and her use of experiential learning in training the next generation of community-centered urban planners.
Awardees will be honored at the annual Faculty Awards Ceremony and Reception to be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025.