Recipients

Grant recipients recieved funding for recruitment, retention, and campus climate projects; community healing practices; and capacity building. 

Award recipients are recognized for their commitment to DEI.

  • CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ARRUPE DEI AWARD RECIPIENTS!

    2021

    Elsie Mares, a Political Science major and Economics minor, personifies the Arrupe DEI Award through her courses, research, work, service and professional goals. Elsie has taken courses within and outside of her major and minor that focus on privilege and civil rights. She attended and participated in learning opportunities surrounding social justice and anti-racism throughout her time as an undergraduate. Elsie’s research focused on access to resources for domestic violence varies for Latina and White women, especially focusing on the experiences of undocumented immigrant Latina women in rural communities. Since freshman year, Elsie has served as an Intercultural Facilitator, where she assisted in facilitating difficult conversations related to diversity, equity and inclusion. This role has also helped her grow as an anti-racist advocate. She plans to pursue advanced degrees in public policy and law, focusing on gendered violence and immigration law. Elsie writes, “My DEI goals are unique because they are intersectional, focusing on issues of race, gender, and class. As I pursue my goals in policy and law, I know I still have a lot of learning to do and intend to continue growing as an anti-racist advocate and leader. I am eager and prepared to continue being shaped by new knowledge while working to promote diversity and inclusion through policy and social change.” Through everything she does, Elsie embodies the Arrupe DEI Award!

     

    2022

    Simone Butler, a Political Science major and African American Studies minor, personifies the Arrupe DEI Award through her courses, research and involvements on and off campus. Her research has focused on public perceptions of the police and community relations; and campus sexual assault and the Title IX adjudication process. Simone is one of the organizers of the #BlackAtLMU movement. She helped oversee the renovation of the Bird’s Nest into the Black Student Space. After graduation, Simone plans to work toward assuaging the severe Los Angeles housing crisis. She writes, “I want to work towards helping minorities and low-income residents secure access to housing, mental health resources, and build a better future overall.” Simone will apply to Masters in Public Policy programs with the intention of fighting for the voiceless.

    Lizbeth Ramales Arango, a Sociology and Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies double major, embodies the Arrupe DEI Award. Lizbeth’s courses have given her exposure and have assisted in developing an understanding of some of the Latino Community's most pressing needs. Lizbeth has been actively involved in extracurricular activities in Latino and general campus communities. She served as an Intercultural Facilitator where she led conversations rooted in challenging topics. Lizbeth co-founded BoundlessLMU comprised of university faculty and staff, who advocated for undocumented students at LMU. She worked as an assistant programmer for Chicana/o and Latina/o Student Services (CLSS), where she assisted in the development and organization of CLSS' cultural, intercultural, religious, and social programs. After graduation, Lizbeth aspires to be involved with non-profit and community-based organizations and clinics that provide funding and legal support for undocumented Latinos and other people of color. She also plans to be actively involved in the process of providing greater levels of educational access and support, mental health services, mentoring (personal and professional), and parent support.

     

  • 2021-2022: Charles Swanson, School of Film and Television

    Strengthening BIPOC Voices in the Film Industry and “Affinity and Inspiration” Intercultural Film Screenings 

    2021-2022: Hillary Henderson, The Mbongi Spot 

    Personal and Professional Development Workshops for students of the Black Student Space

    2021-2022: AASPC/Teagan So/Julia Pacis

    Planned and held Asian American Symposium 

    2021-2022: Mandy Korpusik, Seaver College of Science and Engineering

    Hosted guest speaker for DEI in STEM

    2022-2023: Kennedy Wheatley, Charles Swanson, School of Film and Television

    Non-violent Communication Training for SFTV faculty

     

  • 2020-2021: Black Faculty and Staff Alliance (BFSA)/Tracy Shaw and Bill Parham 

    Wellness hour series

    2021-2022: Black Faculty and Staff Alliance (BFSA)/Bill Parham 

    Wellness hour series

    2022-2023: Black Faculty and Staff Alliance (BFSA)/Bill Parham 

    Wellness hour series

    2022-2023: College SNAP Project/Anthony Barros

    Health and Wellness Campaign

    2022-2023: Matt Morris, Christian Tejada, Jada Trabue, Charles Swanson, School of Film and Television

    The Black Filmmaker Rebellion Film Festival

     

  • 2012-2013: Brandon Tanori, School of Film and Television

    Broadened the School of Film and Television’s graduate school recruitment efforts by reaching out to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

    2013-2014: Jamie Hazlitt, Raymundo Andrade, Hannon Library

    Provided technology and library skill development workshops to LMU’s service staff

    2013-2014: La’Tonya Rease Miles, Academic Resource Center

    Expanded and enhanced the Writing Community Workshop series for first-generation college students

    2013-2014: Melvin Robert, Office of Black Student Services

    Provided monthly workshops wherein students will gain historical context in addition to practical knowledge

    2014-2015: Maruth Figueroa, Chicano Latino Student Services

    Developed a yearlong program for 12-15 sophomores that demonstrate involvement and promising leadership qualities

    2015-2016: Maruth Figueroa, Aris Mosier, and Nathan Sessoms, Ethnic and Intercultural Services

    Provided a program targeted at academically talented sophomores to assist them in exploring their identities while learning about the social and economic contexts of Los Angeles

    2016-2017: Maggie Bove-LaMonica, LMU Family of Schools

    Provided support to Leadership Education Advocacy Fellowship (LEAF) Initiative Fellows

    2017-2018: Aisha Conner-Gaten, Javier Garibay, Jamie Hazlitt, Marie Kennedy, Marisa Ramirez, Hannon Library

    Conducted an assessment of Hannon library's electronic collection through a diversity lens

    2017-2018: Karie Huchting, School of Education, and Brad Stone, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts

    Enhanced the retention of African American doctoral students by supporting them to attend the Black Doctoral Network Conference

    2018-2019: Rebeca Acevedo, Stefan Bradley, Douglas Christie, Jonathan Rothchild, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts

    Developed a BCLA Strategic Plan For Diversity and Inclusion

    2018-2019: Csilla Samay, Office of International Students and Scholars, and Dorothea Herreiner, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts

    Developed specific resources for faculty to support their teaching of international students and organized outreach to and communication with faculty

    2019-2020: Joel Gutierrez/Zach Zysman, Ethnic and Intercultural Services

    Expanded the Classroom LA program, a multi-office program that provides students, faculty, staff the opportunity to engage in rich cultural heritage of the various neighborhoods in Los Angeles

    2019-2020: Lalo Moreno, LGBT Student Services

    Developed a program series that explores the use of digital media as a tool for storytelling and representation 

    2020-2021: Linh Hua, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts

    Scaled the Citation Initiative event up and out by working with four faculty across the schools, colleges and disciplines

    2021-2022: Magaela Bethune, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts

    Organized the second annual symposium, Anti-Racism in Action: Cross-Cutting Approaches to Teaching, Learning, and Community Engagement

    2021-2022: Roz LeBlanc, Communication and Fine Arts

    Decolonizing Dance and Kuumba Beatz

    2021-2022: Sunai Kim, Christopher Cappeli, Lambert Doezema, Andrew Forney, Seaver College of Science and Engineering

    Examined Positive Interventions for First Year Students’ Success & Retention in Science & Engineering

    2021-2022: Jessea Young, Jamie Hazlitt, Hannon Library and Nic Rosenthal, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts

    Created People of the Earth: A Gabrielino-Tongva Annotated Bibliography

    2021-2022: Deanna Cooke, Kim Harris, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts and Alyssa Perez, Center for Service and Action

    Pilot The Truth Telling Pilgrimage Alternative Break

    2022-2023: Black Faculty and Staff Alliance (BFSA)

    Convene Affinity Groups for Anti-Racism Organizing and Coalition- Building

    2022-2023: Linh Hua, Julia Lee, Priscilla Leiva, Jae Williams, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts

    Seeding Retention and Care of Women and Non-Binary Faculty of Color

    2022-2023: Darlene Aguilar, Jamie Hazlitt, Marisa Ramirez, Kathryn Ryan, Hannon Library

    De-escalation Training

  • 2019-2020: Christina Eubanks-Turner

  • 2012-2013: Committee on the Status of Women (CSW)

    Conducted a needs assessment for a Women’s and Gender Equity Resource Center at LMU.

    2013-2014: Leslie Ponciano, School of Education

    Conducted a needs assessment of foster youth-specific services that are available at LMU.

    2014-2015: Fernando Estrada, School of Education

    Studied the role of the teaching alliance in multicultural education at LMU. 

    2015-2016: Sandra Luca, Seaver College of Science and Engineering

    Researched the academic experiences and sense of belonging of STEM students in A Community Committed to Excellence in Scientific Scholarship (ACCESS) Program.

    2017-2018: Susan Burkhauser, Institutional Research

    Studied the impact of faculty of color on the retention of students of color. 

    2019-2020: Natalie Schaal, Seaver College of Science and Engineering

    Conducted a study on the effectiveness of a new peer-mentoring program which aims to strengthen Mechanical Engineering students' self-efficacy, sense of belonging and motivation to persist at LMU. 

    2020-2021: Michelle Castellanos, Alan Nong, Amber Sanchez, Institutional Research and Clark Ryan-Gonzalez, Student Affairs

    Conducted a study to examine factors related to students’ sense of belonging and potential differences by racial/ethnic groups