University Times

Audrey J. Murrell, an associate professor of business administration, is the inaugural winner of an award initially sponsored by the women’s studies program and now co-sponsored by the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA).

Murrell, who also serves as director of the David Berg Center for Ethics and Leadership within the Katz Graduate School of Business, has been selected to receive the Iris Marion Young Award for Political Engagement.

Murrell’s institutional leadership and social activism already have earned her many awards and honors, including the Chancellor’s Distinguished Public Service Award. She has been active in numerous organizations, including Leadership Pittsburgh, Family Services of Western Pennsylvania and the Minority Enterprise Corp. of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Nationally, Murrell has worked on issues related to the use of minority business in public contracting. She also is a former chair of the Gender and Diversity in Organizations Division of the Academy of Management Association.

Lara Putnam, associate professor of history and chair of the Young Award selection committee, noted that the award had yielded an impressive field of nominees from many parts of the Pitt community. The range of Murrell’s involvement elicited particular admiration from the committee, she said.

The award honors Iris Marion Young, a philosopher and social theorist who was a professor in GSPIA during the 1990s. She died in 2006 of cancer.

At Pitt, Young was active in the women’s studies program as well as within GSPIA. During her time in Pittsburgh, Young volunteered and organized on behalf of peace and social justice, fair labor practices, adult literacy and children’s rights, among other causes, and she worked to combat hate groups and poverty.

The award carries a prize of $250 and an iris-themed artwork by a Pittsburgh-area artist or craftsperson.

Murrell will be honored in a ceremony today, March 6, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the William Pitt Union lower lounge. Officials from GSPIA are expected to announce an annual contribution to support the award.