UW-Parkside’s Patterson honored with UW System Outstanding Women of Color in Education Award

This award is an annual honor given to faculty, staff, students or community members to recognize their achievements in advancing equity and inclusion for people of color within the UW System as well as communities across the state. This year is the 27th anniversary of the award through which more than 400 women of color have been recognized for their transformational work.

“The UW System has a longstanding commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion at our universities,” said Jay Rothman, UW System president. “We are proud to honor these women of color whose achievements in advocacy and scholarship have transformed our campuses and communities to be more equitable and inclusive.”

Recipients were formally recognized on Nov. 10 in Madison at an awards ceremony and reception hosted by UW System. The other 2022 Outstanding Women of Color in Education honorees are:

• Stacey M. Jackson, assistant professor of psychology, University Counseling Center Clinician, UW-Eau Claire.
• Robyn Davis, president and CEO, Brown County United Way, Green Bay, selected by UW-Green Bay.
• Jazzma Holland, interim assistant director, Multicultural Student Services, UW-La Crosse.
• Carolina S. Sarmiento, assistant professor, School of Human Ecology; Affiliate, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, UW-Madison.
• Wilkistar Otieno, associate professor, chair, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department, UW-Milwaukee.
• Heidi J. Nicholls, assistant professor of anthropology, UW Oshkosh.
• Brittany Sherman, multicultural advisor, Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, UW-Platteville.
• Dionna Berzat, student, elementary education major, communication studies minor, UW-River Falls.
• Guresi Mena, assistant coach, women’s volleyball, UW-Stevens Point.
• Masako Onodera, professor, Department of Art and Art History, UW-Stout.
• Cherie Dakota, assistant professor, social work, UW-Superior.
• Tanya Y. Kam, professor, Department of Literature and Languages, UW-Whitewater.