The Office of Faculty Diversity and Development in the provost’s office will host a dinner Nov. 2 honoring winners of the Dr. Larry E. Davis Black Excellence in the Academy Awards.
This is the second year for the awards, which are named in honor of the founder and longtime director of Pitt’s Center on Race and Social Problems. The evening recognizes the contributions of Black faculty at Pitt who have advanced knowledge, championed community engagement, and inspired future generations. Learn more about the award categories.
Those being honored this year are:
Academic Excellence Award: Audrey J. Murrell, professor of business administration with secondary appointments in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences’ psychology department.
Emerging Scholar Award: Olanrewaju (Lanre) Morenikeji, assistant professor, Division of Biological and Health Sciences, Pitt–Bradford.
Excellence in Community Engaged Scholarship Award: Esohe Osai, assistant professor, health and human development, and director of the Justice Scholars Institute, both in the School of Education.
Excellence in Leadership Award: Taofeek K. Owonikoko, Division chief and professor of medicine in hematology/oncology, in the School of Medicine; and associate director for translational research at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.
Excellence in Faculty Mentoring: Robert Binder, professor, Department of Immunology
School of Medicine
Academic Icon Award: Jerome Taylor, associate professor, Department of Africana Studies
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. This award recognizes Taylor’s significant and lasting contributions to the University and the impact of his service throughout his academic career.
The Nov. 2 dinner event is at Heinz History Center in the Strip District, starting at 5 p.m. with a cocktail hour, followed by dinner and award presentations from 6 to 8 p.m. and dancing and networking from 8 to 9 p.m.
The event is free, but registration is required. RSVP by Oct. 24. Seating Is limited and cocktail attire is request. For any inquiries, contact: facultydiversity@pitt.edu.