UO Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards
Nominations now open for 2026!
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards recognize UO faculty, staff and students whose contributions demonstrate a commitment to making our UO community more welcoming and respectful for all, as modeled by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Classified staff, officers of administration and faculty members are eligible to be nominated. (Individuals who have previously received the award are not eligible to be nominated.)
Please submit your nominations online by 5:00 PM, Friday, November 7.
AWARD CATEGORIES
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: One undergraduate student organization will be awarded $2,000 in programming funds to recognize exemplary commitment to social justice through student leadership, scholarship, service, community engagement and/or advocacy.
For more information or questions: vpinclusion@uoregon.edu.