Larry Davis Awards honor Black Excellence in the Academy

Pitt’s first Dr. Larry Davis Black Excellence in the Academy Awards were handed out Nov. 3 as part of the 20th anniversary celebration of the Center on Race and Social Problems, which Davis founded.

The ceremony honored the legacy of Davis, who served as dean of Pitt’s School of Social Work from 2001-2018, and the accomplishments of Black Pitt faculty. Davis died in March 2021.

The awards given out at the celebration included:

Emerging Scholar: Amanda Boston, assistant professor, Department of Africana Studies, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

Excellence in Faculty Mentorship: Esa Davis, associate professor of medicine, Clinical and Translational Science, School of Medicine; director, UPMC Tobacco Treatment Service; and director, Career Education and Enhancement for Health Care Research Diversity Program

Excellence in Community Engaged Scholarship: James Huguley, associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion and associate professor, School of Social Work

Excellence in Leadership: Valerie Kinloch, dean, School of Education

Academic Excellence: Sandra Murray, professor, Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine

Trina Shanks, director of the University of Michigan School of Social Work community engagement and professor of social work, gave the keynote address honoring Davis.