During her 13 years at Emory, Berky Abreu touched the lives of countless individuals. Highly involved in the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and College Staff communities, Berky served as the Academic Department Administrator for Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She also served on the President’s Commission on the Status of Women, the Center for Women at Emory Advisory Board, and the College Staff Consortium, including a term as Chair of the College Staff Consortium. Berky’s extensive contributions to the Emory community were recognized by awards including Emory University’s Award of Distinction and the Unsung Heroine award, and she was recognized as the Emory College Staff Consortium Employee of the Year. What was truly remarkable about Berky, however, was not only the extent and depth of her commitment and service to the Emory community, but the warmth she brought to the lives of everyone with whom she came into contact, her unparalleled joie de vivre, and her unique ability to lift up each and every person who came into her office. She made everyone she met feel special and lit up every room she entered with her contagious humor and zest for life. Berky’s boundless kindness and concern for others and her ability to show us the goodness of people and life even in the most challenging of situations continue to be an inspiration for all of us. 

This award recognizes a woman in the greater Emory community whose presence has fostered the personal and academic growth of students, faculty, staff people, and/or departments.

Individuals receiving this award will have: 

• Embodied an ethic of inclusion, compassion, and care
• Inspired others to support the holistic well-being of all members of the Emory community
• Worked tirelessly to create spaces and professional networks at Emory that promote equity, inclusivity, and collegiality
• Exuded joy in their work

Nomination materials should include a reflection on the impact the nominee’s efforts have had on the well-being of greater Emory community, specific examples.

This award recognizes an undergraduate or graduate student who has demonstrated leadership in a co-curricular endeavor that has improved gender equity and/or addressed the needs of women in the Emory community. Award recipients will have hosted events or actions that facilitate the raising of feminist consciousness at Emory or will have campaigned for department or university-wide policies that improve academic opportunities for women and other people directly affected by patriarchy.

Examples of eligible activities include:

• Creating a more equitable and inclusive campus environment for women and others.
• Fostering public dialogue on gender issues in the Emory community and beyond.
• Providing education on feminist issues or issues of gender equity.

Nomination materials should include a description of the student leader’s work, specific examples of how this nominee has contributed to one or more of the core activities listed above, and a reflection on the impact this work has had on the greater Emory community.

This award recognizes an individual or group who have developed a campus program or event to address the needs of women and/or improve gender equality on campus or in the greater Emory community. The winner(s) will have designed and created a novel program or led and improved upon an existing program that addressed the needs of women and/or feminist issues. The program may be a series or a one-­‐time event and must include the participation of students, staff, faculty, or other community members. The award honors an individual or group whose program had made strides in one or more areas of:

• Creating a more equitable and inclusive campus environment for women and others.
• Fostering public dialogue on women’s issues in the Emory community and beyond.
• Providing education on women’s issues or issues of gender equity.

The nomination materials should include a description of the program and specific demonstrable examples of how the nominee has contributed to one or more of the core activities listed above.

The Award for Mentorship recognizes a woman in the Emory community who has demonstrated outstanding mentorship to undergraduate, graduate students, staff, or faculty at Emory. The award honors an individual who has establishing sustained and successful mentoring relationships by:

• Helping mentees to become professionals in their field or achieve career goals by offering or promoting personal and professional development opportunities.
• Supporting and advising mentees as they achieve their personal and professional goals.
• Serving as a personal or professional role model or supervisor for mentees.

The nomination materials should include specific demonstrable examples of how the nominee has contributed to one or more of the mentoring criteria listed above. Nominees may be students, staff, or faculty.  

The Award for Excellence in Teaching and Pedagogy recognizes any teacher (lecturer, professor, graduate student, or teaching assistant) at Emory whose teaching methods, syllabi, and/or course design addresses women’s issues or matters of feminist importance with innovation and success. The award honors a teacher whose record demonstrates a willingness to bring gender issues into the classroom in creative and inspiring ways. The winner will exhibit excellence in feminist teaching and pedagogy in one or more of the following areas:

• Creating innovative approaches to teaching concepts about gender, women’s issues, or feminism at the undergraduate or graduate level through course readings, assignments, and/or class service projects.
• Successfully introducing a gendered or feminist component to class or field that does not traditionally address these issues.
• Working to create a classroom space that promotes gender equity, inclusivity, open-­‐mindedness and critical thinking with respect to issues of gender and diversity

The nomination materials should include specific demonstrable examples of how the nominee has contributed to one or more of the criteria listed above. Nominees need not be full-time faculty and may include part-­‐time lecturers, graduate teachers, or teaching assistants.

This award recognizes an Alum of Emory University who has demonstrated a strong commitment and dedication to issues that affect women in the Emory community and beyond. The award honors an alumnus who has made meaningful contributions by:

• Organizing, promoting, and/or participating in social, educational, professional or networking events for women at Emory, locally, regionally and/or nationally.
• Advocating or providing leadership for women’s issues or concerns of gender equality at the university, local, regional, or national levels.
• Volunteering time, effort, and resources to promote and maintain an active community for women alumnae.
• Organizing and/or participating in fundraising efforts that support the scholarship, leadership and/or community-­‐building efforts of women at Emory.
• Organizing and/or participating in fundraising efforts that serve the needs of women at Emory, locally, regionally, and/or nationally.

The nomination materials should include a description of specific demonstrable examples of how the nominee has contributed to one or more of the core activities listed above.

An Unsung Heroine is a woman who has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to issues that affect women at Emory or in the larger community, but whose efforts have not received publicity or formal recognition.

Examples of the efforts of these women include:

• Taking substantial risks to challenge sexism
• Blazing trails in previously male-dominated environments
• Promoting safety, justice, and equity for girls and women through significant community service
• Serving as role models or mentors for girls or women