Yolanda Medina, a Marine Corps veteran and director of UWM’s Military and Veterans Resource Center since 2018, is one of 12 recipients of the 2024 Outstanding Women of Color in Education Award given by the Universities of Wisconsin.
The award is an honor given each year to faculty, staff, students or community members to recognize their achievements in advancing equity and inclusion for people of color within the Universities of Wisconsin as well as communities across the state.
More than 400 women of color have been recognized for their transformational work with the award, now in its 29th year.
“The Universities of Wisconsin have a longstanding commitment to inclusion at our universities,” said Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman. “We are proud to honor these women of color whose achievements are helping our campuses and communities.”
Other 2024 Outstanding Women of Color in Education honorees are:
- Jesse Yang (UW-Eau Claire), campus videographer, Immersion Program co-leader
- Sawa Senzaki (UW-Green Bay), associate dean, cultural psychologist and professor
- Anika Campo Oplanic (UW-La Crosse), undergraduate student, Inclusive Organization leader
- Carolee Dodge Francis (UW-Madison), chair of Civil Society & Community Studies, professor
- Maria Graf (UW-Oshkosh), College of Nursing assistant professor
- April Puryear (UW-Parkside), University Services program associate, Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and Student Engagement and Connection
- Helen Maki Ramthun (UW-Platteville), graduate student, U.S. Navy veteran
- Bao Lee (UW-River Falls), academic coach in TRIO Student Support Services
- Sarah Manasreh-Decker (UW-Stevens Point), assistant professor, principal clarinet for La Crosse Symphony Orchestra
- Min DeGruson (UW-Stout), associate professor, program director for Packaging Program
- Jade Jensen (UW-Superior), alumna, public services coordinator for Jim Dan Hill Library
Each UW university was invited to select one woman to receive the award, which highlights each recipient’s contributions to improving the status and climate for women and people of color and to advancing the work of diversity, equity and inclusion.
