Academic Civic Engagement
This award recognizes courses or programs that create outstanding opportunities for engaged civic learning for Rutgers University–Camden students.
Dr. Julio Ángel Alicea
Dr. Julio Ángel Alicea is an assistant professor of sociology whose course, “Educational Opportunity in the U.S.: District, Charter, and Private Schools” provides students with a unique, hands-on opportunity to explore the complexities of educational policy and practice. Through this course, Dr. Alicea encourages students to collaborate with local schools on research projects designed to both benefit the partner schools and deepen students’ understanding of the cultural and policy factors shaping educational opportunity in the United States. In addition to engaging in research, students participate in direct interactions with local school students through classroom observations and interviews, giving them the chance to explore educational experiences from diverse perspectives. These experiences are structured to challenge students’ pre-existing notions and encourage them to consider how education is influenced by race, culture, and policy in ways that may differ from their own lived experiences. Dr. Alicea’s research interests focus on race and ethnicity, urban studies, and organizational theory. His work has been published in prominent journals such as Sociology of Race and Ethnicity, Social Problems, and Urban Education. He is currently working on a book manuscript examining BlackLatinx solidarity in urban schools following the killing of George Floyd. A former public school teacher, Dr. Alicea is conducting a large-scale interview study of educator of color experiences across different workplace contexts.
Academic Civic Engagement
Chancellor’s Awards for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement
This award recognizes courses or programs that create outstanding opportunities for engaged civic learning for Rutgers University–Camden students.
Dr. Nathan Fried
Dr. Nathan Fried is an associate teaching professor of biology who makes an extraordinary impact on his students’ lives through his teaching and mentorship.
“Principles and Practices of Biological Research” (PPBR), a cornerstone course for the Department of Biology, is uniquely designed to be a completely student-directed Curriculum for Undergraduate Research (CURE) where students carry out a research project within the four-credit class. In contrast to other traditional CURE projects, where students will conduct research on a faculty project, PPBR students are provided a small budget to develop entirely unique research projects and receive mentored research training to carry it out. The course closely mimics a traditional research experience in that students must troubleshoot experiments, learn from failure, present their data to a large audience (other students and the public at the endof-semester Biology Day), and report their findings by submitting a manuscript to our undergraduate research journal, The Journal of Biological Sciences, for peer-review. Students gain valuable experiences from the course, which challenges them to think about how their research impacts their local community in Camden, the larger global community, and the frontiers of their discipline. As the lead instructor for PPBR, Dr. Fried equips students with a strong foundation in biological research and instills confidence in their ability to excel in STEM. Dr. Fried takes the time to understand students’ unique needs, aspirations, and challenges, fostering an inclusive environment where all students feel supported. His ability to break down complex scientific concepts and create engaging learning experiences makes an enduring impression on his students.
Local Impact, Global Reach
Community Engaged Scholarship
This award recognizes faculty whose scholarship involves a reciprocal partnership with the community, meaningfully engages community-based knowledge, and/or provides a direct and tangible benefit to the community in which it was performed.
Dr. Thomas Dahan
Dr. Thomas A. Dahan, an assistant teaching professor of nursing, has led the Rutgers–Camden Public Health AmeriCorps and HealthyWE programs. The Public Health AmeriCorps program has provided 101 students and community members with opportunities to address health disparities and social determinants of health. Participants have earned over $230,000 in living allowances, with 63 earning the Eli Segal Education Award for educational expenses. The program integrates AmeriCorps service into nursing students’ experiences, allowing them to serve in community health clinics led by Rutgers–Camden faculty. Additionally, Dr. Dahan leads the HealthyWE program, a New Jersey Department of Health-funded initiative addressing obesity in Camden City through physical activity programs. The program has served over 87 participants, with more than 80% meeting attendance goals and reporting improved self-efficacy in maintaining healthy weight. Many participants, including 10 from Branch Village, now serve their communities through AmeriCorps. Dr. Dahan is also an active scholar in service learning and community engagement. His recent work, “Role of Design for Causal Analysis in Research on Community Engagement,” published in the International Journal of Research on Service Learning and Community Engagement (2024), advocates for robust research design in studying the impact of community engagement efforts on students, faculty, and communities. Dr. Dahan’s leadership in these programs and his scholarly contributions demonstrate his commitment to improving health and fostering community engagement.
Student Civic Engagement
This award recognizes students who make noteworthy contributions to communities beyond the campus through their academic and co-curricular work.
Olorunfunmi “Funmi” Adebajo
Olorunfunmi Adebajo is a community development specialist whose work focuses on urban poverty alleviation, education, and gender equity. As a graduate student in public administration at Rutgers–Camden, her research examines structural causes of homelessness and development of policy-driven solutions, exploring the effectiveness of Shared Housing as a prevention and intervention for intergenerational homelessness. As an intern with the Camden County Community Development Office, she played a key role in researching shared housing strategies, analyzing national best practices, and facilitating discussions with stakeholders such as the Shared Housing Institute USA. She has worked with individuals experiencing homelessness, connecting them with housing, social services, and rental assistance programs. She currently works with the Center for Family Services to develop traumainformed community-led interventions for individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health crises and substance use. Ms. Adebajo advocates for sustainable, community-centered approaches to poverty and homelessness. This builds on her previous work in Nigeria, where she led initiatives that provided vocational training, adult education, and digital literacy programs to more than 10,000 teenage mothers and female heads of households. Her contributions earned her recognitions such as the Mandela Washington Fellowship, the Emerging African Leaders Fellowship, and a nomination as one of Nigeria’s 100 Most Inspirational Women. Driven by a vision for inclusive economic development, Ms. Adebajo aims to bridge academia, policy, and practice to shape sustainable solutions for poverty eradication for vulnerable communities across the world.
Local Impact, Global Reach
Student Civic Engagement
This award recognizes students who make noteworthy contributions to communities beyond the campus through their academic and co-curricular work.
Raizel Febles
Raizel Febles, a sophomore double-majoring in political science and Spanish at Rutgers–Camden, has dedicated her time on campus to uplifting fellow Latina students and giving back to the community. She is the founder and president of MujeRes, an organization dedicated to the emotional and academic empowerment of Latina women, establishing mentorship pipelines between Latina students and faculty to foster academic success. Ms. Febles has actively addressed mental health within the Latine community, presenting on these critical topics at the Escaleras Summit and the Latinx Leads National Conference, raising awareness and providing education. Demonstrating her commitment to serving the Camden community, she coordinated efforts to secure 7,000 menstrual pads for young girls in local high schools and partnered with the women and gender studies department to assemble and distribute hygiene kits, combating health inequities. As a Racial Justice Learning Community Fellow, she led a documentary, produced through the Institute for the Study of Global Racial Justice, which challenges negative stereotypes of Camden by highlighting the impactful work of local community organizations and leaders.
Student Civic Engagement
This award recognizes students who make noteworthy contributions to communities beyond the campus through their academic and co-curricular work.
Israel Miller Jr.
Israel Miller Jr. has demonstrated exceptional dedication and impact through his involvement in various community initiatives, particularly the Summer Youth Initiative with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), as well as his work with the Latin American Student Organization (LASO), NAACP, and HombRes. As the program coordinator for the NJDEP Summer Youth Initiative – a program designed to engage young people in environmental conservation and education – he coordinated activities and workshops that educated youth on environmental issues, sustainability practices, and the importance of conservation. Mr. Miller has organized community events to raise awareness about environmental issues, involving local residents and stakeholders in the initiative. Through his efforts, he helped to cultivate a new generation of environmentally conscious individuals, making a lasting impact on both the participants and the broader community. Mr. Miller’s involvement with LASO and HombRes highlights his dedication to supporting and empowering marginalized communities. As LASO president, Mr. Miller has tirelessly promoted cultural awareness and inclusivity. He has organized events that celebrated Latin American heritage, provided support to Latinx students, and advocated for their needs within the university. In his roles with HombRes and the NAACP, Mr. Miller has focused on addressing issues faced by men of color by facilitating workshops and discussions on topics such as mental health, leadership, and personal development, thereby helping to create a supportive network for men of color.
Local Impact, Global Reach
Student Civic Engagement
This award recognizes students who make noteworthy contributions to communities beyond the campus through their academic and co-curricular work.
Chiamaka Stellamaris Nwede
Chiamaka Stellamaris Nwede, a graduate student in public affairs and community development, has distinguished herself as an applied scholar (someone who finds the root cause of problems and solutions) and a changemaker. She is the former vice president and volunteer secretary of the Graduate Student Organization and at large representative for the Graduate School. Her dedication to the Camden community is evident in her roles as a teaching assistant at the Rutgers Early Learning Research Academy and an afterschool tutor at LEAP University Academy Charter School in Camden. Since 2023, she has helped improve students’ literacy and numeracy skills, with 90% of the children in her care demonstrating measurable progress in early reading comprehension and basic math proficiency. In April 2024, she received a certificate of recognition for her outstanding contributions to the children and families of Camden from the Community Leadership Center at Rutgers–Camden. Ms. Nwede’s impact has also reached international stages. In 2023 and 2024, she was invited to attend the United Nations General Assembly Action Weekend in New York City, the World Bank Youth Summit, and the United Nations General Assembly Summit of the Future. During these events, she joined over 1,000 young changemakers, diplomats, and world leaders to exchange ideas and drive actionable solutions for fostering socioeconomic inclusion and resilience while elevating the voices of marginalized communities.
Student Civic Engagement
This award recognizes students who make noteworthy contributions to communities beyond the campus through their academic and co-curricular work.
Junisse Ventura
Junisse Ventura, a senior nursing student, has spent her Rutgers–Camden experience focused on service and philanthropy. During summer 2024, Ms. Ventura helped to assist low-income families through a bookbag drive in collaboration with Parents Invincible and many other organizations within the community of Camden. Her efforts led to the donation of 1,000 bookbags. Ms. Ventura is a proud member of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority. She has helped to coordinate our campus’s St. Jude Gala to raise funds to help combat childhood cancer and help families never receive a bill. Most recently, Ms. Ventura and her organization raised $7,500 for St. Jude’s. As a TRiO Scholar and the Tri-Alpha Academic Honor Society president, she has mentored other first-generation college students on campus toward success. She has had the opportunity to attend a Latinx Leads conference, where she and her classmates presented about Hustle Culture as a First-Generation Student. While balancing her academics as a nursing student and working as a critical care technician at Cooper to support herself and her family, Ms. Ventura has spent more than 150 hours working with local Camden organizations, donating her time to youth empowerment, feeding the hungry, cleaning up the city, and promoting college access and voter registration. She has volunteered with organizations such as L.U.C.Y, Cathedral Kitchen, Book Smiles, Movimiento Tricolor, and Parada San Juan Bautista.
Local Impact, Global Reach
Kelly Francis Prize
This award is given in memory of Mr. Colandus (Kelly) Francis who was an icon of the civil rights and social justice movement in Camden and recognizes students who exemplify Mr. Francis’ values of civic engagement and commitment to the city of Camden. This prize includes a monetary award of $500 from Dr. Margaret Marsh, University Professor of History and Dean Emerita, and Dr. Howard Gillette, Professor Emeritus of History.
Cindy Do and Christine Do
Cindy Do and Christine Do, co-founders of The Period Poverty Project, are dedicated to addressing the issue of menstrual equity within underserved communities. Launched in 2023 through Dr. Westman’s Honors College First-Year Forum course, their initiative seeks to alleviate period poverty by providing access to essential menstrual products and fostering awareness around this critical but often overlooked social issue. Through collaboration with campus organizations and community partners, the initiative successfully distributes over 1,200 menstrual products per semester to those in need, ensuring that individuals who face financial barriers can maintain their health. In addition to product distribution, The Period Poverty Project has promoted education and advocacy, challenging the stigma surrounding menstruation and its impact on marginalized populations. The project’s efforts have empowered individuals to openly discuss menstruation as a fundamental issue of gender equality and social justice. Cindy and Christine’s work exemplifies the values of the Kelly Francis Award, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to diversity, inclusion, and community engagement. By creating initiatives focused on period poverty and raising awareness on a broader scale, Cindy and Christine have made a lasting impact on their community and beyond, paving the way for future efforts in promoting menstrual equity.
Alumni Civic Engagement
This award recognizes individual alumni or groups of alumni for efforts and projects that benefit communities beyond the Rutgers campus.
Ashly Estevez-Perez
Ashly Estevez-Perez (CCAS’20, GSC’21) is a proven public servant. She helped create Movimiento Tricolor, a nonprofit organization that provides resources to address social and economic barriers facing the Dominican community and the broader Latin American population in Camden and New Jersey. Approaching its five-year anniversary, Movimiento Tricolor continues to promote civic engagement throughout Camden and the region through community events, scholarships, economic development, education, culture, and advocacy. One of Movimiento Tricolor’s flagship events is Dominican Restoration Day, which celebrates the cultural accomplishments and richness of the Dominican diaspora, increases small business exposure, and provides onsite resources and services to attendees. Community engagement through this event has increased annually, bringing approximately 3,000 community members together at the Camden Waterfront in 2024. Movimiento Tricolor offers programs focused on education, economic empowerment, and mental health. The organization has awarded over $5,000 in scholarships and grants to local students and business owners. Additionally, the organization has trained over 30 small business owners on their rights and best practices, helping foster economic growth within Camden. Ms. Estevez-Perez continues to connect with her alma mater by speaking at events, mentoring, and sharing her experiences with the Rutgers community. Last May, she was the keynote speaker at Rutgers–Camden’s Rites of Passage Ceremony. Ms. Estevez-Perez was a special advisor at the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Local Impact, Global Reach
Alumni Civic Engagement
This award recognizes individual alumni or groups of alumni for efforts and projects that benefit communities beyond the Rutgers campus.
Sheena Yera
Sheena M. Yera (CCAS ‘15) a proud Rutgers alumna and Camden native, is the first Latina to serve as chief communications officer for the Camden City School District. She has redefined district communications by ensuring bilingual families are included in decision-making and that all messaging reflects the diverse community CCSD serves. In anticipation of the 2024 presidential election, Ms. Yera prepared a comprehensive communication plan to support immigrant families, recognizing that policy changes could directly affect them. When the election results were announced, she swiftly implemented a district-wide response, reaffirming CCSD’s commitment to protecting all students and ensuring families had access to critical resources. She created a dedicated section on the district website with legal aid information, advocacy organizations, and real-time policy updates, making CCSD one of the first districts in the area with a fully developed immigrant support hub. Beyond crisis response, Ms. Yera has built meaningful partnerships with organizations like Subaru and Rutgers to bring scholarships, school supplies, and financial aid to Camden families. She is a mentor, advocate, and dedicated volunteer, uplifting Camden’s cultural heritage and championing equity and inclusion. Her leadership and commitment to community engagement make her a deserving recipient of the Alumni Civic Engagement Award.
Community Partner Civic Engagement
Chancellor’s Awards for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement
This award recognizes a community partner organization that has worked with Rutgers University–Camden to bring benefits to communities beyond the Rutgers campus.
Tom Martin
Since 2018, the Free Books Project (FBP) has worked to change the landscape of access to reading materials for the City of Camden through multiple programs, including 230 book arks in the city and regular pop-up libraries at or near the Walter Rand Transportation Center, Cathedral Kitchen, and Zion Baptist Church. The FBP team regularly participates in days of service and other city events. The program is a longtime, valued Rutgers University–Camden partner in several ways. Currently, the FBP hosts a Bonner Civic Scholar, providing inspirational and educational mentorship to this student as she works for the program. The FBP partners with Rutgers–Camden faculty, staff, and students on numerous projects, including a Book Bowl in 2024 whereby, in partnership with the Student Governing Association, students worked to donate books to the FBP. The program also provides book donations to the Rutgers–Camden Scarlet Raptor’s Nest food pantry. Tom Martin and the FBP team individually mentor students on projects and contribute to their professional development. Additionally, the FBP regularly partners with a number of Rutgers–Camden’s engaged civic learning courses. Through their service to communities where access to books is limited or non-existent, the FBP takes books where they’re needed and gives them away.
Local Impact, Global Reach
Community Partner Civic Engagement
This award recognizes a community partner organization that has worked with Rutgers University–Camden to bring benefits to communities beyond the Rutgers campus.
Leslie Morris
Leslie Morris is founder and CEO of Women of the Dream, a Camden-based organization dedicated to empowering girls through programs focused on life skills, college preparation, mental health services, and scholarships. She has raised and distributed $291,220 in scholarships to young women pursuing higher education.
Ms. Morris grew up in public housing in Long Branch, surrounded by a close-knit community that aimed to give their children opportunities that had been denied to them in the Jim Crow South. She earned her undergraduate degree from Simmons College, followed by master’s degrees from Boston College and UNC at Chapel Hill. In 1987, Ms. Morris developed and implemented New Jersey’s first comprehensive school-based health center in Jersey City. She then spent five years in Washington, D.C., as national director of the Adolescent Health Initiative at the National Association of Community Health Centers. For 10 years, she worked with underserved communities through the New Jersey Primary Care Association. In 2014, she founded Women of the Dream with funding from Campbell’s. A recent example highlights her impact on the lives of girls in Camden: one of her girls at Creative Arts High School was accepted to Simmons College, Ms. Morris’ alma mater, after Ms. Morris had taken the student to Simmons to discover the school and the opportunities awaiting her, just as Ms. Morris discovered Simmons thanks to her guidance counselor. Such experiences make Ms. Morris’ work profoundly impactful.
Community Partner Civic Engagement
This award recognizes a community partner organization that has worked with Rutgers University–Camden to bring benefits to communities beyond the Rutgers campus.
Kristina Rocchio-Hammond, a fifth-grade teacher at Cooper’s Poynt (CP) Family School in the Camden City School District, has been a dedicated member of the 21st CCLC RU IGNITE after-school and summer program for over a decade. As an ELA and math remediation teacher, she has played a crucial role in helping students improve their reading comprehension and math skills. For the past five years, Ms. Rocchio-Hammond has served as the head site coordinator for IGNITE at CP and the on campus summer program, demonstrating exceptional leadership and commitment. Her dedication has contributed to the program achieving consecutive service milestones, supporting over 201 students and 30 staff, and earning recognition from parents and guardians as a vital academic and enrichment resource.
Local Impact, Global Reach
Kristina Rocchio-Hammond
Cooper Civic Leadership Award
This award recognizes a student who exemplifies outstanding service to the Camden community, with special consideration given to students whose engagement is through a health-related field.
Shaan Mody
As an honors student at Rutgers University–Camden and an aspiring osteopathic physician, Shaan Mody seeks to uplift communities, address disparities, and create change. He is the founder and chair of the Student Wellness Advisory Board, where he leads initiatives to improve the physical, mental, and social well-being of approximately 6,000 students. An advocate for menstrual equity, Mr. Mody partnered with New Jersey Assemblywoman Andrea Katz to push for legislation ensuring menstrual product accessibility at higher education institutions statewide, turning local action into state-level reform. Beyond campus, Mr. Mody co-founded Caring for Camden, an initiative tackling homelessness and promoting health. Through this effort, he has organized food, hygiene, and clothing drives, partnered with schools to provide menstrual products, and cultivated meaningful connections across the city. His research reflects his commitment to service, including a campus-wide study that led to 20-plus infrastructure improvements and a statewide project examining how water pollution disproportionately impacts cities like Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick. Mr. Mody’s leadership extends into his role as vice president of the Student Governing Association, where he has implemented disability accommodations, improved campus living conditions, and launched the university’s first Pre-Health Committee to support aspiring healthcare professionals. As an EMT and the volunteer engagement manager for the New Jersey Vrajdham Health Fair, Mr. Mody has mobilized access to essential healthcare for over 300 individuals annually. Recently accepted into the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, he plans to pursue a dual D.O.-Ph.D. career focused on addressing systemic health disparities.
Spirit of Civic Engagement
This award recognizes individuals and/or teams who embody Rutgers University–Camden’s core commitment to civic engagement in the ways that they interact with the campus and external communities.
Angela Hall
Angela Hall is a business specialist supervisor at the Rutgers–Camden Shared Services Center, which assists administrative and academic units across campus with select payroll and procurement tasks. Her work with the Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Civic Engagement (DICE) plays a critical role in ensuring that the DICE team and its partners are able to realize their mission and goals on campus and in the community. Amid several transitions within the DICE team over the last year, she played an invaluable role in ensuring that staff were adequately informed on procurement processes and able to obtain goods and services on time. Her commitment to this work and the role that she plays contributes to the strong foundation from which the Division is able to efficiently and effectively serve our community. Ms. Hall is recognized campuswide as a patient and professional colleague who contributes diligently to the advancement of the university.
Local Impact, Global Reach
Faculty/Staff Community Service
This award recognizes individuals and/or teams who embody Rutgers University–Camden’s core commitment to civic engagement in the ways that they interact with the campus and external communities.
Dr. Eveling Hondros
Eveling Hondros is an assistant teaching professor of Spanish and a community leader committed to breaking down language barriers in healthcare. Her work improves student experiences and healthcare access for Spanishspeaking populations. As the leader of the Spanish for Health Program, she has built strong partnerships with clinics, hospitals, and community organizations to provide fair and compassionate care for underserved communities. Under her guidance, students interact directly with Spanishspeaking patients, using their language and cultural skills in real healthcare settings. Her volunteer work has helped students grow professionally and has improved access to healthcare for vulnerable populations. At the Kroc Center, Prof. Hondros has played an important role in mentoring volunteers and supporting community projects. She received the Service Award, recognizing her significant impact on the community. As an advisor for the Rutgers–Camden Global Medical Brigades, she inspires students to pursue careers in global health and patient advocacy. In 2024, she won the Torchbearer Award for her outstanding efforts to reduce equity gaps and improve lives in the communities where Rutgers operates. Prof. Hondros has influenced many professionals, strengthened partnerships, and created lasting change in healthcare access. Her genuine passion for social justice drives her to empower students, healthcare providers, and communities through her dedicated efforts.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Award honors the challenging and intricate work of further transforming our campus community into one that not only celebrates the campus mission, but also creates a world-class higher education institution building on a heritage of equity, belonging, and inclusion. These individuals are being recognized for providing Rutgers–Camden with the critical voices necessary for change and for their sustained actions to transform our community by making it an even more diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environment and place of employment.
Dr. Rachel Derr
Prof. Rachel Derr is a clinical assistant professor at the Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden, where she promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA) through her scholarship, teaching, leadership, and community engagement. Her commitment to DEIA extends beyond her job-related duties, as she continuously leverages her expertise to create more inclusive and equitable environments for students, faculty, and the broader community. As an ambassador of inclusive and equitable teaching practices and creator of equity-oriented design, she transforms nursing education by fostering equitable and accessible learning environments. Prof. Derr champions DEIA as the founder of the Faculty Affinity Network on Disability, Accessibility, and Inclusion, and through her service with Access in Nursing, a national organization addressing disability barriers in nursing education. She was recently awarded the Rutgers University Torchbearer Award, which honors leaders in promoting DEIA, and she was featured in Rutgers–Camden’s inaugural issue of the Student Success Insider. Prof. Derr’s work as a co-investigator on a collaborative grant providing stroke education in Camden schools addresses community health disparities. Her commitment to DEIA makes a tangible difference at Rutgers University–Camden and beyond.
Local Impact, Global Reach
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Award honors the challenging and intricate work of further transforming our campus community into one that not only celebrates the campus mission, but also creates a world-class higher education institution building on a heritage of equity, belonging, and inclusion. These individuals are being recognized for providing Rutgers–Camden with the critical voices necessary for change and for their sustained actions to transform our community by making it an even more diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environment and place of employment.
Brandon Quiles
Brandon Quiles is a proud Puerto Rican, first-generation, Rutgers University–Camden graduate and current assistant director of Student Support Services (SSS) who has worked to create diverse and inclusive spaces to support Latine student success and retention. In 2023, Mr. Quiles and a group of TRiO SSS scholars established HombRes, a culturally relevant program dedicated to empowering Latin male students and addressing systemic challenges in retention, academic success, and personal development. The program has received both the Rutgers–Camden DICE IDEA Grant and the Educational Equity and Excellence Collaborative Innovation Grant Award for this work. HombRes has implemented 16 targeted programs that focus on academic excellence, financial literacy, mentorship, identity consciousness, and civic engagement; the initiative has significantly enhanced Latin male students’ retention and graduation rates, with all members successfully transitioning between semesters and completing FAFSA applications for continued education. The program strengthens participants’ sense of belonging by fostering meaningful connections, facilitating candid discussions, and promoting leadership growth. Mr. Quiles has established an advisory board, revitalized the Latin Alumni Association of Rutgers University, and expanded mentorship networks through innovative events like “Mentoring and Mocktails” and “Papis in the Park.” His efforts have inspired the creation of MujeRes, a sister initiative dedicated to Latin women’s empowerment. Through his leadership, Mr. Quiles has created a sustainable, research-informed model for student success that embodies the core tenets of DEI.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Award honors the challenging and intricate work of further transforming our campus community into one that not only celebrates the campus mission, but also creates a world-class higher education institution building on a heritage of equity, belonging, and inclusion. These individuals are being recognized for providing Rutgers–Camden with the critical voices necessary for change and for their sustained actions to transform our community by making it an even more diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environment and place of employment.
Dr. Joan Maya Mazelis
As director of Gender Studies, Dr. Mazelis provides mentorship, advising, and outreach to our students, particularly Gender Studies majors and minors. Students in Gender Studies are often dealing with their own shifting gender identities, seeking affirmation and a sense of community and belonging. Dr. Mazelis brings not only her academic training to this position, but also willingly shares experiences from her own life and family, which shape her empathetic approach to inclusion and support. Each year in addition to the standard work of any program director – course scheduling, hiring and evaluating instructors, advising students – Dr. Mazelis plans a number of events. She is careful to include events across a wide range of topics, such as programming on masculinity, girlhood, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ experiences. She seeks to include some events that are in person and some that are online, some that require prior registration and some that don’t, some that include food, some that showcase the work of academic scholars and some that highlight creative and performing arts. Furthermore, she has sought and secured co-sponsorships from Digital Studies, Africana Studies, Childhood Studies, Political Science, the Honors College, Visual, Media, and Performing Arts, DICE, as well as from her home department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal justice, which has helped raise the profile of such programming and extended its reach and appeal. These events have proven to be high-impact practices for our students, diversify the events available to the campus community, and contribute to the University’s efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Local
Impact, Global Reach
Dr. Nathan Fried is an associate teaching professor of biology who makes an extraordinary impact on his students’ lives through his teaching and mentorship. “Principles and Practices of Biological Research” (PPBR), a cornerstone course for the Department of Biology, is uniquely designed to be a completely studentdirected Curriculum for Undergraduate Research (CURE) where students carry out a research project within the four-credit class. In contrast to other traditional CURE projects, where students will conduct research on a faculty project, PPBR students are provided a small budget to develop entirely unique research projects and receive mentored research training to carry it out. The course closely mimics a traditional research experience in that students must troubleshoot experiments, learn from failure, present their data to a large audience (other students and the public at the end-of-semester Biology Day), and report their findings by submitting a manuscript to our undergraduate research journal, The Journal of Biological Sciences, for peerreview. Students gain valuable experiences from the course, which challenges them to think about how their research impacts their local community in Camden, the larger global community, and the frontiers of their discipline. As the lead instructor for PPBR, Dr. Fried equips students with a strong foundation in biological research and instills confidence in their ability to excel in STEM. Dr. Fried takes the time to understand students’ unique needs, aspirations, and challenges, fostering an inclusive environment where all students feel supported. His ability to break down complex scientific concepts and create engaging learning experiences makes an enduring impression on his students.
Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement (DICE)
121 Market Street Camden, New Jersey 08102-1519
(856) 225-7060
ruc-diversity@camden.rutgers.edu
camden.rutgers.edu/dice
Dr. Nathan Fried