Early Childhood Education Center honored for embracing the value of diversity

September 10, 2010

Distinguished Diversity Leader's Award

UM-Dearborn’s Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) recently was recognized for demonstrating extraordinary commitment and dedication to diversity at the University of Michigan.

Mary Trepanier-Street, professor of early childhood education and director of the ECEC; Seong Hong, associate professor of education; and Katie Silverman, assistant professor of education, received the 2009 Distinguished Diversity Leaders Award as one of five teams honored during an Aug. 24 ceremony at Palmer Commons on the Ann Arbor campus.

The Distinguished Diversity Leaders Award honors staff members who work toward achieving a welcoming, supportive and inclusive working environment. It is intended to celebrate those who embrace the value of diversity and recognize how it helps set the University apart.

The ECEC’s teachers initiated the nomination for the award. The ECEC team, which was the only recipient this year from the UM-Dearborn campus, received $2,500 in professional development money for the ECEC.

In the photo above (from left), David Betts, associate director of U-M’s Office of Institutional Equity presents the award to Trepanier-Street; Hong; Debbie Jones, education coordinator at the ECEC; and Silverman during the ceremony.