2024 Excellence in Work to Foster Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Awards

The College of Social Sciences and Humanities is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Excellence in Work to Foster Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Awards. The winners will be recognized at the Faculty and Staff Celebration on Wednesday, April 10, 3:00 – 4:30 pm on the 8th floor of the EXP Building.

The winners of this year’s Excellence in Work to Foster DEIB Awards are:

Maya Bravo

Undergraduate Student, Sociology and Communications

Maya Bravo demonstrates exceptional dedication to advancing DEIB objectives at the university. In her role as DEI Program Assistant at NU PLACE, she coordinated events, assisted with program development, and facilitated meetings. At the LGBTQA+ Resource Center, Maya created new resources like the OWAM Club and LLAMA Club. Her sophisticated understanding of intersectionality enriches classroom discussions, while her representation as a queer, Latinx student inspires others. Additionally, Maya serves as a Peer Mentor for Sociology/Anthropology first-year students. Her multifaceted contributions across campus reflect her commitment to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at Northeastern University.
Dr. Adam Hosein

Associate Professor, Director of the Politics, Philosophy and Economics Program, Department of Philosophy and Religion

Adam Hosein champions diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at CSSH through teaching and professional endeavors. His philosophical approach addresses contemporary social and political issues, particularly immigration and discrimination. Investigating central theoretical issues, he engages in policy debates on racial profiling, migrant amnesty, gender stereotyping, and antisemitism. Hosein’s research aims to sensitize philosophical discourse to DEIB concerns, such as tackling structural racism in policing and fostering gender identity acceptance in workplaces. His upcoming book, “Discrimination, Inclusion, and Social Progress,” consolidates his work into a comprehensive theory. Overall, Hosein significantly enhances CSSH’s diversity and inclusivity, fostering a sense of belonging for all members.
Lisa Laguerre

Director of Community Relations, Center on Crime, Race, and Justice

Lisa Laguerre is a driving force in promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). Her role at CSSH involves bringing together diverse stakeholders to encourage engagement and dialogue. Beyond her regular duties as Director of Community Engagement at the Center on Crime, Race, and Justice, she builds strong partnerships between Northeastern University and Boston’s community, facilitating research collaborations and experiential learning. Notably, she oversees the Community Advisory Board (CAB), guiding the Center on Crime, Race, and Justice’s mission to promote racial justice and improve justice systems through rigorous research and evaluation. Lisa often works behind the scenes, taking responsibility for tasks that don’t always get the spotlight, striving daily to advance CSSH’s DEIB goals.
Mim Merchant

Undergraduate Student, Human Services and Sociology

Mim Merchant is dedicated to promoting DEIB at Northeastern University. As the cofounder of PAAQA (Pan Asian American Queer Alliance), they organize campus workshops supporting Asian Queer students. Serving on the Human Services Advisory Board, Mim supports the expansion of Asian Studies programs. During their co-op with the Boston Public School Office of Equity, they researched sexual misconduct and bias-based actions and assisted in ensuring employees received appropriate medical accommodations. Mim’s classroom discussions are enriched by their experiences, making them engaging and thoughtful. Their impact will undoubtedly continue post-graduation, furthering DEI efforts as an alum of Northeastern.
Keneya Onuaguluchi

Undergraduate Student, History, Culture, and Law

Keneya Onuaguluchi’s commitment to cultivating DEIB is evident through her extensive involvement in various initiatives, including her research project on the intersection of race and philosophy research. As President of Club Basketball, she initiated a partnership with “You’re With Us,” promoting inclusivity for disabled young adults. Additionally, as a peer programmer with the Alliance of Civically Engaged Students, Keneya organized community service events and voter education workshops, fostering civic engagement. Further, she has worked with the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project, advocating for restorative justice relating to incarceration and racially motivated homicides. Keneya’s dedication to creating positive change and addressing systemic inequities makes her a champion of DEIB.
Caitlin Thornbrugh

Associate Teaching Professor and Director of the Writing Minor, Department of English

In her five years as a faculty member, Caitlin Thornbrugh has profoundly influenced students, faculty, and the Northeastern community, both locally and globally. She received the Northeastern LGBTQA Resource Center Gratitude Award in 2021 and is involved in the First Generation and Low-Income Network, analyzing the challenges faced by that community of students. She also leads Dialogues of Civilization like “Food and Culture in Cambodia,” fostering cultural exploration. Her community engagement includes supporting domestic violence survivors and facilitating creative writing workshops for marginalized groups. Thornbrugh’s activism and commitment to DEIB principles resonates widely, particularly among Northeastern students and writers.
Sheila Winborne

Teaching Professor, Department of Philosophy and Religion

Sheila Winborne has been committed to improving diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at Northeastern University for over a decade. Winborne’s “Race and Religion in Film” course fosters reflection on racial themes in popular cinema, instilling ethical reasoning and cultural appreciation. Chairing the Racial Justice Task Force Committee, she fosters an inclusive, open, and tolerant intellectual environment. At the university level, she supports initiatives like the Women of Color in the Academy conference and the NU Path Differences and Diversity Workshop. Sheila continues to inspire students, not only with her innovative pedagogy and effective teaching methods but also through her humanity and personal integrity as a champion of underrepresented groups.

2024 Excellence in Work to Foster Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Awards

Maya Bravo

Undergraduate Student, Sociology and Communications

Dr. Adam Hosein

Associate Professor, Director of the Politics, Philosophy and Economics Program, Department of Philosophy and Religion

Lisa Laguerre

Director of Community Relations, Center on Crime, Race, and Justice

Mim Merchant

Undergraduate Student, Human Services and Sociology

Keneya Onuaguluchi

Undergraduate Student, History, Culture, and Law

Caitlin Thornbrugh

Associate Teaching Professor and Director of the Writing Minor, Department of English

Sheila Winborne

Teaching Professor, Department of Philosophy and Religion

More Stories

‘Reign of terror.’ Universities freeze hiring, rescind offers, start layoffs amid Trump cuts

Honoring Women’s History Month: A Commitment to Scholarship, Leadership, and Belonging

What happened with Dr. Oz’s weight loss supplement class action lawsuit?