The Presidential Commission on Race and Ethnicity is proud to support the Deacon Davis Diversity Award.
Created in 2004, this award recognizes significant contributions made in advancing belonging and the campus culture related to race and ethnicity on the NIU campus by current NIU undergraduate, graduate, professional students, faculty, supportive professional staff, civil service, academic units, offices, programs or organizations. See the list of past recipients.
About Deacon Davis
McKinley “Deacon” Davis was born in Freeport, Illinois on August 3, 1932. Davis was an All-Star basketball player throughout high school and college. In 1955, Davis graduated from the University of Iowa and became a member of the Harlem Globetrotters until 1957. While traveling around the country with the team, Davis studied the condition of American high schools. It was in these years, while continuing his education, that his vision developed for what would one day become the CHANCE (College Help and Assistance Necessary for College Education) Program.
In 1968, NIU President Rhoten Smith hired Davis as the director of special programs and founder of the CHANCE Program. Davis stayed in that role until 1978 when he became the Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at NIU. Since 1968, the CHANCE Program has been a door of opportunity for many minority students to both enter and graduate from NIU. Deacon Davis helped to improve the status of minorities on the NIU campus. Davis passed away on March 20, 2003.
Nomination Process
- Nominators should complete the nomination form about the nominee
- Nominators will need to solicit and submit one additional letter of support with the nomination form
- The commission may contact the nominators and nominees for additional information as needed
Submission Deadline
For more information contact
commissions@niu.edu.
2025
- Kianna Graves, master’s student in Higher Education and Student Affairs
- Black Business Students Association (BBSA)
- Gudrun Nyunt, Associate Professor of Higher Education
- Linh Nguyen, Inclusive Teaching Coordinator at the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL)
- Tawanda Paul, Senior Research Associate in Accreditation, Assessment and Evaluation
2024
- Dyeato Paye, undergraduate honors student
- Huskie Food Pantry
- Fred Barnhart, Dean of University Libraries
- Simón E. Weffer-Elizondo, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Felicia R. Bohanon, Executive Director of the Office of Precollegiate Programs
2023
- Dulce Hernandez, graduate student, Higher Education and Student Affairs
- Courtney Vinson, Senior Associate Athletics Director/Sports Administration of Intercollegiate Athletics
- Black Male Initiative (BMI)
- Supporting Opportunities for Latinos (SOL)
- Ismael M. Montana, Associate Professor and President of the Faculty Senate
2022
- Milijana Buac, Assistant Professor, Allied Health & Comm Disorders
- Jui-Ching Wang, Professor, World Music and Music Education
- Alejandra Hernandez, Undergraduate Student Classical Guitar Performance and Jazz Studies
- Ana Velazquez, Graduate Student Higher Education and Student Affairs
- Roselyn Snell, Executive Director, Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity
2021
- Jasmine Ivy, graduate student, Higher Education and Student Affairs
- Jessica Labatte, associate professor, School of Art and Design
- Paula Frasz, professor School of Theatre and Dance
- Michelle Bringas, director of Asian American Resource Center
- Jocelyn Santana, director, Social Justice Education Program
- Lisa Freeman, president, Northern Illinois University
2019
- Sandra Puebla, student, senior Political Science major
- Carter Cavazos, student senior Sociology major
- Susana Das Neves, Director of Illinois Migrant Education Services
- Sean Frazier, Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics
- Kay Shelton, NIU Naperville Education Center Operations Supervisor
- Dream Action NIU, Student Organization
2018
- Pablo Valencia-Garcia, student, Athletic Training major
- LeBrian Carrington, Academic Advisor/Counselor, Academic Advising Center
- Janice Hamlet, Associate Professor, Department of Communications
- William McCoy, former Director of BELIEF, College of Business
2017
- Laura Vivaldo Cholula, NIU Undergraduate Student
- Kristina Wilkerson, NIU Graduate Student
- Beverly McCall, Advisor/Counselor, CHANCE Program
- Lisa King, Associate Director, CHANCE Program
- Yolanda King, Associate Professor, College of Law
- Katrina Myers Caldwell, former Assistant Vice President for Diversity and Equity
2016
- Romeo Jackson, NIU Undergraduate Student
- Daniel H. Tamayo, NIU Undergraduate Student
- Javier Rodriguez, NIU Undergraduate Student
- Charles Ogundipe, Assistant Director, Financial Aid
- LaVerne Gyant, Professor, Adult and Higher Education
- Glenda Jones, Collection Specialist II, Bursar's Office
2015
- Sandra Gonzalez, NIU Undergraduate Student, Spanish Language and Literature K-12 Major
- Sara Briseño, NIU Undergraduate Student, Sociology Major
- Karen Baker, Associate Vice President, Affirmative Action and Equity Compliance
2014
- Marc Reynolds, NIU Graduate Student, U.S. History Major
- Chris Liska Carger Professor, Literacy Education on College of Education Strategic Diversity Plan (James Cohen, Joe Flynn, Connie Fox, Becqui Hunt and Scott Wickman)
- Project R.E.D. Residents Engaging in Diversity
2013
- Latasha Bennett, NIU Undergraduate Student, Center for Non-Governmental Organization Leadership and Development (NGOLD)
- Sandy Lopez, Assistant to the Director for the Center for Latino and Latin American Studies
- James Cohen, Assistant Professor, Department of Literacy Education
- Nancy Russo, Professor, Department of Operations Management and Information Systems
- Society of Women Engineers
2012
- Suzanne Coffield, English Department
- Ellen Franklin, English Department
- Wesley Coats (ret.), Procurement Services
2011
- Ron Carter, School of Music
- Murali Krishnamurthi, Faculty Development & Instructional Design
- Edgar Ramirez, NIU Undergraduate Student
2010
- Don Bramlett, Director of the Office of Retention Services
- Lt. Darren Mitchell, Department of Public Safety
- Derrick Smith, Academic counselor for the Center for Black Studies
2009
- Joy Mutinda, Psychologist
- Robert Collins, Deputy Director of Athletics
- Andres Giraldo, NIU Undergraduate Student
2007
- Dean Promod Vohra, College of Engineering and Engineering Technology
- Luis and Clersida Garcia, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education
- Minority Science Association
2006
- Admasu Zike, Executive Assistant in Human Resource Administration
- Donald Grady, Department of Public Safety
- Glenda Jones, Specialist in the Bursar’s Office
2005
- James Brunson, Assistant Director of Housing
- The entire Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center
- LaMetra Curry, NIU Doctoral Student
2004
- Leroy Mitchell, Director of Educational Services and Programs/CHANCE Program
- Monique Bernoudy, Associate Athletics Director
- Michael Kirkwood, NIU Law Student