Diversity awards honor efforts of students, faculty

The Portland State Diversity Action Council held their fourth annual President’s Diversity Awards Ceremony yesterday afternoon in the Smith Memorial Student Union Ballroom to celebrate those who help honor the mission of diversity on campus.

The awards are given each year by the PSU president and the Diversity Action Council to recognize diversity and community involvement among students, staff and faculty. This year, students Tash Shatz, ASPSU equal rights advocate, and Rudy Soto, ASPSU president, along with Conflict Resolution staff Stephenie Jahnke and Yer Thoa, assistant professor in Curriculum and Instruction, were honored.

More than 300 people were invited to the award ceremony.

This year’s keynote speaker was Robert Jensen, professor of journalism at the University of Texas at Austin. Jensen spoke on diversity and what Universities across the country can do to be more inclusive of all cultures, religions and sexual orientations.

“Portland State strikes me as a university that is very serious about making diversity a part of daily life,” Jensen said. “Simply put, I think PSU believes it is the right thing to do.”

The honorees

Tash Shatz is actively involved in bringing PSU students, faculty and community members closer together. He has led “Safe Space” trainings on campus to educate students and student government leaders. Heavily involved with advocacy groups on campus, Shatz is a member of Allies against Rape Culture and has coordinated Trans 101 workshops at conferences.

“I think this is really a testament to the culture of PSU that these awards even exist,” Shatz said. “This award really belongs to all of the students, leaders and activists who work hard everyday for those underrepresented.”

Rudy Soto, besides being the first student of color elected as ASPSU president in nine years, has played an intricate role in the development of programs such as the United Indian Students in Higher Education.

Soto said that of all his achievements, he is most proud of his work in founding the ROOTS Festival–which brings various walks of life together while providing space to speak openly and respectfully about those differences.

“The award means the world to me,” Soto said. “Because I came to PSU on the Diversity Recognition Scholarship, I feel like I have lived up to my end of the deal by providing students from various backgrounds to get involved with the campus and PSU politics.”

This year’s faculty award went to Stephenie Jahnke, in part for her work making PSU a safer place for the transgender community and playing an active role in increasing the number of gender-neutral bathrooms on campus. Janhke is an active member of the Sexual and Gender Equality Task Force. As someone who helped revitalize that program, Jahnke feels it is important to be open and not be afraid to show your true self.

“I think my voice and action is so effective because I am out,” Jahnke said. “Wherever I can be of help and support I will be there.”

Yer Thao has been with the Department of Curriculum and Instruction of the Graduate School of Education for the past four years. He is the first Mong to earn a doctorate in the United States.

Thao has written The Mong Oral Tradition: Cultural Memory in the Absence of Written Language. He said he is dedicated to helping people learn to believe in themselves, and trust one another, by teaching appreciation and respect for various cultures around the world.

“This award means a lot to me and the university,” Thao said. “By receiving this, it will only further my inspiration to bring all cultures together, not just here on campus, but throughout the community.”