2024 Nominees & Recipients

Student Nominees

• Abhishek Pandey, College of Engineering
• Annabella Vidrio, School of Music, Theatre & Dance
• Ariana Bueno, College of Engineering
• Bachir Ahmed Abeid, College of Engineering
• Bhavana Komaraju, College of Engineering
• Christina Rice, College of Engineering
• Christopher Dewitt, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
• Diana Anda, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
• Elijah Simpson, College of Engineering
• Elsa Olander, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
• Giancarlo Medrano and Paulo Zepeda, School of Music, Theatre & Dance
• Hsuan-Po Liu, College of Engineering
• jon kent, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
• Jordan Lawton, College of Engineering
• Kara Roseborough, School of Music, Theatre & Dance
• Laila Burke-Graves, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
• Minjeong Kim, College of Engineering
• Naomi Rodriguez, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
• Ojochilemi Okoka, School of Music, Theatre & Dance
• Oluwami Dosunmu-Ogunbi, College of Engineering
• Reese Liebman, College of Engineering
• Ruchit Shah, College of Engineering
• Samantha Jayasundera, College of Engineering
• Sebastian Javier Lecha, College of Engineering
• Shreya Jain, College of Engineering
• Simranpreet Anand, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design

Organization / Team Nominees

• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Epsilon Chapter, Interdisciplinary Org / Team
• The DR’s Laboratory, School of Music, Theatre & Dance
• MARS Dialogue Series: Aaron Johnson, Aditi Verma, Mackenzie Warwick, Betsy Strehl, College of Engineering
• National Society of Black Engineers, College of Engineering
• Radical Planning Team, Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning
• Society of Women Engineers, College of Engineering

Faculty Nominees

• Albert Berahas, College of Engineering
• Chanel Beebe, Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning
• Emilia Yang, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
• Hannah Smotrich and Stephanie Rowden, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
• John Ellis, School of Music, Theatre & Dance
• Judith Rice, School of Music, Theatre & Dance
• Karin Jensen, College of Engineering
• Laura Alford, College of Engineering
• Louise Toppin, School of Music, Theatre & Dance
• Miki Banu, College of Engineering
• Nicole Keller, School of Music, Theatre & Dance
• George Halow, College of Engineering
• Salar Fattahi, College of Engineering
• Todd Austin & Valeria Bertacco, College of Engineering

Staff Nominees

• Demetrius Shields, School of Music, Theatre & Dance
• Grenmarie Agresar, College of Engineering
• Heidi Sherick, College of Engineering
• Jack Perry, College of Engineering
• John Luther, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
• Katherine McAlpine, College of Engineering

• Kara Roseborough, School of Music, Theatre & Dance
• Emilia Yang, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
• Dr. Chanel Beebe, Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning
• Salar Fattahi, College of Engineering
• Radical Planning Team, Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning
• Nicole Keller, School of Music, Theatre & Dance

• Laila Burke-Graves, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
• Katherine McAlpine, College of Engineering
• The DR’s Laboratory, School of Music, Theatre & Dance
• Judith Rice, School of Music, Theatre & Dance
• Grenmarie Agresar, College of Engineering
• Hannah Smotrich and Stephanie Rowden, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design

• Simranpreet Anand, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
• Elijah Simpson, College of Engineering
• Samantha Jayasundera, College of Engineering
• MARS Dialogue Series (Aaron Johnson, Aditi Verma, Mackenzie Warwick, Betsy Strehl), College of Engineering
• Society of Women Engineers, College of Engineering

• Giancarlo Medrano & Paulo Zepeda, School of Music, Theatre & Dance and Ross School of Business
• Annabella Vidrio, School of Music, Theatre & Dance
• The SMTD First Gen Initiative, School of Music, Theatre & Dance
• Naomi Rodriguez, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
• Elsa Olander, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
• jon kent, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
• Christina Rice, College of Engineering
• Albert Berahas, College of Engineering
• Todd Austin & Valeria Bertacco, College of Engineering
• Jack (Boomer) Perry, College of Engineering
• The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), College of Engineering
• Ariana Bueno, College of Engineering
• Diana Anda, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
• Minjeong Kim, College of Engineering
• Demetrius Shields, School of Music, Theatre & Dance

• Oluwami Dosunmu-Ogunbi, College of Engineering
• Christopher Dewitt, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
• George Halow, College of Engineering
• Darryl Koch, College of Engineering
• Jordan Lawton, College of Engineering

As a true stand-out faculty member at SMTD, Louise Toppin has made an enduring impression on faculty, staff, and students with her dedication, drive, and determination to uplift Black composers in voice at SMTD.

Her list of accomplishments showcase her work not only at SMTD, but in the community as well. She has won many distinguished awards for teaching, and served on several board committees that highlight black composers.

Besides her busy academic and outside work schedule, she honorably accepted her role as Faculty Advisor for the DEI Office at SMTD. In this role, she is working alongside the DEI staff to help amplify DEI values throughout SMTD to help create a more sustainable DEI culture at SMTD for faculty, staff, and students for years to come.

While Louise could easily be nominated for many of the different categories of these awards (and has been nominated consistently in past years to receive one), her work around learning and scholarship have been invaluable.

As a scholar, she has lectured on the music of African American composers and has appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered; presented at many national conventions including the Society for American Music, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, the American Cultural Association, the National Association of Negro Music, NASPAM; and on many college campuses including Harvard, Tufts, and Duke.

And, while many of her endeavors and teaching awards have been well documented, I would like to shine light on her most recent scholarship as the inaugural Faculty advisor to the SMTD DEI Office.

A nominator writes, “It is within this capacity that I and many others are learning so much in relation to the practice of DEI and its inherent ties to the Performing Arts. In particular, she has helped to lead the charge around helping to educate folks around the necessity and importance of tackling sensitive topics as performing artists, through the development of discussions, processes, and other means that will lead to both educational developments, and institutional policy changes within SMTD.”

John Luther has been a mentor and inspiration to literally thousands of students over the many years in his role as the Career Development Coordinator in Stamps.

His unwavering dedication, positivity, student focus, and collegiality would be reasons enough to nominate him for any number of awards offered this evening (and indeed he has been nominated in several categories).

However, it is in the centering of everything he does, says, and thinks in inclusivity, justice, and compassion that makes John a stand-out amongst his peers.

John has a unique empathy and focus that he brings to every interaction and conversation on behalf of students, faculty and staff, and an advocacy style rooted in the power and persuasion of the spoken (and sung!) word. He is a theater artist by training and avocation, after all, and always looking to move both the hearts and minds of others.

John ensures that underrepresented students and communities are treated with dignity and respect, making sure to refocus group attention and behavior if they find themselves falling into complacency or inaction.

He has mentored thousands of students toward their career and personal goals, helping them see themselves achieving beyond what they may think are their current limitations and barriers. And, he regularly reaches out to his colleagues to uplift and help students that might not have the connections or resources that others easily acquire.

A nominator writes, “While serving for many years with John on student funding committees, I have found him to be insightful, empathetic, and compassionate. John is the first person I go to in Stamps — whether it is around his role or not — because he is generous with his knowledge and always ready to share and connect those that may need it most. He sees his role in the University as an agent of change through student success – always looking to push the edges of what has been done to do what can be done for his students. While his mentorship of and care for his students is easy to see and celebrate, his mentorship of his colleagues in how to best incorporate the living best practices and principles of justice and inclusion in our interactions with others has been both inspirational and aspirational”.