WSU News Archive

By Steve Nakata, Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment

 

 

Gaskins

PULLMAN, Wash. – Longtime Washington State University employee Felicia Gaskins will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award during WSU’s Martin Luther King, Jr., Community Celebration 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, in the CUB Senior Ballroom.

 

Gaskins is executive director of the Culture and Heritage Houses and has held numerous positions throughout her career at WSU. She first came to Pullman as an undergraduate student and, after obtaining her music education degree in 1973, took her first job at WSU as assistant director in the Office of International Education.

 

Her legacy at WSU includes serving as director of the Center for Human Rights, director of the Conflict Resolution Program, assistant vice provost for Human Relations and Diversity and associate vice president for Student Affairs, Equity and Diversity. 

 

Four other individuals will receive the MLK Distinguished Service Award in particular categories:

 

Eric Johnson, Department of Teaching and Learning, WSU Tri-Cities (faculty member)
Mary Lauver, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences (WSU staff member)
Nick Montanari, senior majoring in psychology (WSU student)
Doris Sonstelie, WSU Yakima County Master Gardeners (community member)

 

The winner of the WSU group category is the Association of Pacific and Asian Women.

 

This award recognizes excellence in the advancement of diversity through innovative and effective programs, service or outreach for faculty, staff, students and/or the WSU community.
 

Leonard

David Leonard will deliver the celebration’s keynote speech, "Dr. King’s Dream, Body Politics and the Continual War on Women of Color.” Leonard is associate professor and chair of WSU’s Department of Critical Culture, Gender and Race Studies.

 

For those unable to attend the celebration, the WSU Global Campus will sponsor a live videostream at mms://windowsmedia.wsu.edu/stream. Mac users must have Flip for Mac installed on their computers. 

 

"This year’s MLK event promises to be engaging and dynamic due to the cross-campus collaborations that shape the program,” said Marc Robinson, director of the WSU Culture and Heritage Houses and lead organizer of the MLK celebration.

 

His team partnered with several campus areas - most notably the Common Reading Program, whose 2012-13 book, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” is a natural fit with the celebration because it discusses issues of race and equity in United States history, Robinson said.

 

 

A variety of WSU events throughout January will celebrate King’s legacy and coincide with the national holiday celebrated in his honor – on Monday, Jan. 21, in 2013.

 

Among them, the Common Reading Program will host a free, public appearance by the family of Henrietta Lacks at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, in Beasley Coliseum. This program will be moderated by Robinson and Mary Sanchez-Lanier, associate dean in the University College.

 

"The Common Reading Program aims to connect students’ experience of the book to areas of study across the university,” said program co-director Karen Weathermon. "We are especially pleased that this year’s book highlights issues of diversity and social justice.”

 

 

Body politics refers to the practices and policies through which powers of society regulate the human body, as well as the struggle over the degree of individual and social control of the body.

 

Leonard will examine links between King’s legacy, the life of Henrietta Lacks, the historical experience of African-American women and social justice.

 

"I am excited by the opportunity to reflect on the historic power of Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said Leonard. "Examining his life's work, alongside that of many other civil rights freedom fighters, I am humbled. Having taught about Dr. King, and having worked with the King Papers Project at Stanford University, I am honored to have this opportunity to engage the broader campus community.”

 

 

The celebration also will feature performances by the WSU School of Music faculty jazz ensemble Jazz Northwest, the University Singers and God’s Harmony Gospel Choir.

 

The celebration receives support from the WSU Visual, Performing and Literary Arts Committee.

 

 

Contacts:

Marc A. Robinson, WSU Culture and Heritage Houses, 509-339-6172, marc_robinson@wsu.edu

Steve Nakata, manager of communications, Student Affairs and Enrollment, 509-335-1774, nakata@wsu.edu

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