2026 Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King
Commemoration and Awards Ceremony
Thursday, January 22, 2026
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM (doors open at 11:15)
VENUE: EMU Ballroom
2026 Theme: “The Courage to Belong”
RSVP
This year's nominees are:
Laurel Bastian
Associate Director, Teaching Engagement Program
Jay Butler
Retirement Payroll Specialist, Business Affairs – Payroll Services
Miriam Alexis Castellon Jordan
Undergraduate Student Support Manager, Robert D. Clark Honors College
Dayna Chatman
Associate Teaching Professor, Media & Intersectionality, School of Journalism & Communication
Kent McIntosh
Professor & Philip H. Knight Chair, Special Education; Director of Educational & Community Supports
Da'Mon Merkerson
Senior Associate Athletic Director for Culture & Engagement
Chanel Meyers
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Rhonda Nese
Associate Professor, Special Education & Clinical Sciences; Director of the Nese Lab
Katie Staton
Steward, Many Nations Longhouse
Celena Simpson
Director, Pathway Oregon Program
Kristin Yarris
Associate Professor, Global Studies & Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Department Head, WGSS
The window for 2026 awards has closed. Nominees were determined by the following criteria:
All UO classified staff, officers of administration, faculty members, graduate students, student organizations are eligible. Nominations are encouraged from and for both Eugene and Portland campuses. Individuals who have previously received the award are not eligible to be nominated.(Previous winners)
Up to two nominees in each category below will receive a monetary award in recognition of their leadership and commitment to our university community:
Exemplary Leadership (faculty, classified staff, and officers of administration)
Recognizes employees who have made extraordinary contributions to their unit, college, division and/or the university at large through their leadership and efforts toward embedding and/or promoting equity, accessibility, and inclusion in principles, policies and practices.
Institutional Transformation (faculty, classified staff, and officers of administration)
Recognizes employees who have worked diligently to transform university processes and policies in ways that either remove barriers for faculty, staff and student achievement or create new pathways to achievement and flourishing.
Inclusive Scholarship Award (faculty only)
Two faculty members (TTF, NTTF, Pro-Tem) will receive $2,000 in research funding to recognize exceptional scholarship and creative activity that explores how differences—across cultural, social, ideological, economic, geographic, biological, and institutional dimensions—shape lived experiences and societal structures. It recognizes research that contributes to access and opportunity by examining the forces that sustain or challenge cohesion, opportunity, and resilience in communities, organizations, institutions and societies. The award welcomes work from a wide range of perspectives.
Graduate Student & Student Organization Awards
Graduate Student Leadership Award: One graduate student will be awarded $2,000 in research funds to recognize extraordinary leadership in embodying and/or promoting equity, accessibility, and inclusion within their unit, college, division and/or the university at large.
Student Organizations or Student-Facing Leaders and Programs: Up to two undergraduate student organizations or student-facing leaders or programs will be awarded $2,000 in funds to recognize exemplary commitment to social justice and equity through leadership, scholarship, service, program excellence, community engagement and/or advocacy.
For more information or questions: vpinclusion@uoregon.edu.