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Carla Paciotto, Cathy Couza, Janine Cavicchia and President Jack Thomas
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Cavicchia & Paciotto: Couza Award for Outstanding Leadership in Diversity

May 17, 2016

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MACOMB, IL -- Janine Cavicchia, director of the Women's Center at Western Illinois University, and Carla Paciotto, educational studies professor, each received the Western Illinois University 2016 Cathy O'Neill Couza Award for Outstanding Leadership in Diversity for their contributions to the University and the community at the 27th annual President's Excellence in Diversity Awards Reception held May 12.

"Janine and Carla join past recipients in exemplifying professional and personal commitment to promoting justice, equity and diversity through education, personal example and action," said Cathy Couza, former director of Equal Opportunity and Access at WIU. "They fully understand the historic discrimination and alienation that can be felt by individuals based on their 'otherness,' and have committed much of their professional career to promoting inclusion."

Cavicchia became a member of the professional staff at WIU in August 1987. She has served as director of the Women's Center since 1998.

"In her role as the director, Janine has gone above and beyond advocating for gender-equity issues. She works tirelessly to bring gender-related issues to the forefront for discussions that in many instances lead to identifying solutions for positive change," noted Andrea Henderson, director of Equal Opportunity and Access.

During her years at Western, Cavicchia has served on numerous diversity committees, including the Cultural Diversity Cadre, Affirmative Action and Equity Council, Sexual Harassment Prevention and Education Committee, ADA Advisory Committee, Multicultural Center Steering Committee, LGBTQA Resource Center Advisory Board, WOW executive board, the Interpersonal Violence Prevention Committee, the University Committee on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression and the University Diversity Council. Cavicchia will retire from Western on May 31 after 29 years of services.

Paciotto joined Western's educational studies faculty in 2000 and was promoted to full professor in 2009. Paciotto, and her colleague Gloria Delaney-Barrman, created the program "Project Estrella," in which Paciotto taught graduate-level education courses with a bilingual-bicultural focus to teachers in Beardstown. Paciotto has also been recognized for her work in the community, such as her Spanish language program in the Macomb School District. She has also worked with the Beardstown School District recruiting Latino and other immigrant high school students to the University.

"Carla is active in immigrant and refugee communities, supporting families, students and teachers and started support, professional networking and learning groups that connect people to the resources and services they need," Couza added. "She accomplishes these activities by volunteering her own time and recruiting the assistance of other volunteers to promote a community of caring professionals who celebrate and serve diverse communities."

In addition to her workload as a professor, Paciotto also collaborates with local schools and teachers to provide conferences, workshops, tutoring and tours for a mixed population of students who are traditionally underserved.

Individuals receiving 2016 Excellence in Diversity awards at the May 12 program include: Excellence in Education: Abraham Graber; Excellence in Leadership: Leslie Ducay; and Excellence in Service: Alexis Austin and Janine Cavicchia.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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