Deborah E. McDowell, a University of Virginia professor, has been nominated for the 2018 Zintl Leadership Award.
The award given by university’s Maxine Platzer Lynn Women’s Center to honor a female employee annually for surpassing job expectations, will recognize McDowell’s commitment to diversify the faculty throughout the nation and for her collaborative activities.
“The community recognizes the dedication and energy that blazing trails takes,” Women’s Center Director Abigail Palko said. She further said McDowell has been “an important connector between UVA and the Charlottesville community and has dedicated considerable attention to developing the talent among the Woodson Institute’s fellows.”
Cynthia Hoehler-Fatton, associate professor of religious studies and one of McDowell colleagues who nominated her for the award, was full of praise for her activities beyond the job.
“She has worked tirelessly to increase faculty diversity, promote inclusion and collaboration on programmatic and institutional levels, and enhance the institute’s outreach to the wider community,” Hoehler-Fatton said.
McDowell holds the Alice Griffin Professorship and has been expanding African-American and African studies through different course and programs. She recently started her work on collaborative digital projects.