J-school prof wins University diversity award for outreach to Latina/o community

UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media assistant professor Paul Cuadros won the faculty award given by the UNC Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs for his outreach to the Latina/o community.

Cuadros will be recognized at a reception on April 16 at 3 p.m. in the Pleasants Family Assembly Room in Wilson Library. Provost Bruce Carney will speak on behalf of the University.

“Faculty across the UNC campus are connecting diversity and inclusion with their teaching, research and service in creative and innovative ways,” said Marco J. Barker, senior director of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. “While it was difficult to select one recipient, the committee was impressed by Cuadros’ service-learning efforts, volunteerism, scholarship and campus-wide service, and commitment within and beyond the Scholars Latino Initiative.”

Caudros’ nomination letter noted that he is “personally involved with the high school students, teachers and counselors, school principals and SLI teacher liaisons to better navigate a path for a promising group of students who would be otherwise excluded from higher education.”

The nominator also described him as “a tireless advocate and supporter of diversity in education, [who] has invested hundreds of hours of volunteer time to meet with school officials, potential funders and supporters and community partners to advocate for support and collaboration so that students will be both financially and academically able to attend college.”

The University Diversity Awards recognize significant contribution to the enhancement, support and/or furtherance of diversity on the campus and in the community. The awards are given annually in categories that include faculty, staff, undergraduate, graduate/professional student, student organization, unit/school, alumni and community member.

In 2012, Hussman School doctoral student Joseph Erba and Rethink: Psychiatric Illness, a student organization led by journalism student Viviana Bonilla Lopez, were recognized with University-wide diversity awards.