Peter W. Likins Inclusive Excellence Award
The Inclusive Excellence Award acknowledges faculty, staff, students, units, colleges or organizations, who through their programs or leaderships in diversity, enhance the UA’s academic distinction. The award is intended to communicate that diversity is an indicator of quality, or as President Likins says, “Diversity is essential for excellence.”
President Peter Likins will be honored as the inaugural recipient of the Inclusive Excellence Award for his work in creating and supporting diversity initiatives. In the future, the campus community will submit nominations for the “Peter W. Likins Inclusive Excellence Awards ” and a search committee will make final selections. The award will be presented each year at UAdiscusses…
Dr. Peter Likins
Former President, The University of Arizona
Dr. Peter W. Likins was appointed as the 18th president of The University of Arizona on July 22, 1997. Since the beginning of his presidency, Dr. Likins has emphasized the importance of diversity.
Under his leadership Dr. Likins established diversity is a measure of quality and academic excellence. In March 2002, President Likins convened a Diversity Coalition with membership from underrepresented groups across campus. The Diversity Coalition’s charge is to create and monitor a plan to broaden diversity at the University. The plan has done so in a number of ways. It has resulted in the creation of the Diversity Resource Office, set goals for increasing the diversity of our faculty, staff and students, and established our annual diversity day, UAdiscusses… just to name a few.
He encourages the hiring of diverse people as faculty and staff and the enrollment of a diverse student body. On his President’s Cabinet of 20 administrators, 10 are women and 10 are men. Also, of the 20 Cabinet members, 6 are people of color: 4 Hispanics, 1 African American and 1 Asian/Pacific member. Of his 9 vice presidents, 7 are women.
President Likins also has sought to strengthen the University’s relationships with the diversity of our community. For instance, President Likins established diversity advisory councils (African American, American Indian, Asian Pacific American, Disability, Hispanic, LGBT) comprised of community leaders with the goal of seeking their input on community issues as they affect the University.
President Likins is recognized nationally as an outstanding administrator who successfully has fostered diversity programs at the universities where he has served.
President Likins came to the UA from the presidency of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. Prior to his 15 years at Lehigh, Dr. Likins was provost of Columbia University, where he had earlier served as a professor and dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Dr. Likins’ passion for diversity stems from his heart. He and his wife Patricia, who have been married for 50 years, have raised an inter-racial family of six adopted children.
View these photographs:
Karen Francis Begay
Chair, President's American Indian Advisory Council
Julius Parker, Jr.
Chair, President's African American Advisory Council
Miranda Joseph
Former Chair, President's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Advisory Council
Lina Rodriguez
Chair, President's Hispanic Advisory Council
Peter Likins
Former President, The University of Arizona
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