Penn GSE Prof Earns 2010 Ozell Sutton Medallion of Justice for Impact on Historically Black Colleges
PHILADELPHIA — Marybeth Gasman, an associate professor in the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, has been awarded the 2010 Ozell Sutton Medallion of Justice for her research into and advocacy for historically black colleges and universities. The Medallion honors someone committed to enhancing civil rights and promoting justice for all.
Walter M. Kimbrough, president of Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark., will present the award at the school’s convocation in late August.
“Marybeth Gasman has been aggressive in helping the broader public understand both the relevance and need for HBCUs, especially in an era where those who want to say we are ‘post-racial’ push to close these institutions,” Kimbrough said. “Her advocacy on behalf of HBCUs, using data from research, provides great assistance for the institutions. Just as importantly, she pushes HBCUs to really look at ways to strengthen their overall operations, challenging them to become much more progressive and innovative.”
The Medallion of Justice is named for Ozell Sutton, a pioneer in African-American history. Sutton, an alumnus of Philander Smith, was one of the first African-Americans to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps and the first black reporter at the Arkansas Democrat. He served as an escort for the Little Rock Nine and continues to work as a civil rights activist.
In Senegal, the ambitious Dakar Greenbelt project seeks to create an extensive network of ecological infrastructure in and around the city to sustainably address environmental concerns and enhance urban life. With support from David Gouverneur and Ellen Neises, Ph.D. candidate Rob Levinthal in the Weitzman School of Design led two courses that included a field trip to Dakar, that culminated in students presenting their visions for parts of the Greenbelt.
From a desert to an oasis: Penn engages in ambitious greening effort in the Sahel
Students from the Weitzman School of Design journeyed to Senegal to help with a massive ecological and infrastructural greening effort as part of their coursework. The Dakar Greenbelt aims to combat desertification and promote sustainable urban growth.
As part of an undergraduate course, Penn faculty and students curated an Arthur Ross Gallery exhibition of works from the Neumann family’s extensive collection of modern and contemporary art.
The University’s nexus for technology transfer supports researchers in their innovative efforts, from CAR T to mRNA advancements that have dramatically reshaped the world.