Josie R. Johnson Human Rights and Social Justice Award

Apply for the Josie R. Johnson Human Rights and Social Justice Award

Application deadline: March 31, 2023 by 11:59 pm

The Josie R. Johnson Award was established to recognize Dr. Josie R. Johnson’s lifelong contributions to human rights and social justice both within and beyond her tenure at the University of Minnesota. The purpose of this award is to honor University of Minnesota faculty, staff, and students who exemplify Dr. Johnson’s commitment to creating respectful and inclusive living, learning, and working environments.

Congratulations to the Spring 2022 Josie R. Johnson Human Rights & Social Justice Awardees:

Alexander Hines
Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Program | PES CLA Undergraduate Education
College of Liberal Arts, Twin Cities

Dr. Terresa Moses
Assistant Professor, College of Design
Director of Design Justice

Nomination Information

All nominees and nominators must be current faculty, staff, or students at the University. Student nominees must be in good academic standing and registered at the University of Minnesota during the semester of their nomination. Self-nominations are not accepted.

The awards will be presented at the University of Minnesota Equity and Diversity Breakfast in November 2023.

Nominations are due to the Office for Equity and Diversity by 11:59 pm on March 31, 2023. To nominate an individual for the Josie R. Johnson Award, the following items must be submitted using this online form:

A letter of nomination
The nominee’s current résumé or curriculum vitae
A personal statement from the nominee reflecting on their values and personal commitment to human rights and social justice
Two letters of support documenting the nominee’s contributions to human rights and social justice

Nomination Guidelines

For faculty and staff who are nominated, special consideration will be given to those who perform their human rights and social justice work over and above their daily work at the University of Minnesota.

The letter of nomination and the letters of support should keep in mind the following selection criteria:

Increasing educational or employment opportunities for individuals from underrepresented communities.
Producing or presenting scholarly work, which significantly improves others’ understanding of the complex dynamics of difference in its various manifestations and multiple dimensions.
Advocating for policy or procedural change designed to improve the learning and working environments for individuals from underrepresented communities.
Developing and implementing initiatives that support individuals from underrepresented communities to develop skills, obtain knowledge, and establish support networks that are essential to promoting an inclusive community.
Promoting the advancement of human rights and social justice through involvement on campus and/or in the external community.
Demonstrating an ability and ongoing commitment to preparing and empowering others as effective advocates for social equality.
Possessing an admirable strength of character that inspires others to continue personal development in the area of human rights and social justice.

Note: The above list provides examples of work that the committee will be looking for as it reviews nominations, but it is by no means an exhaustive list of possible avenues of service.