The annual awards recognize people, units, or programs that contribute to the advancement of inclusive excellence at the University and in the Worcester community. Awardees designate a $1,500 gift to a program or department of their choice, supporting Clark\u2019s shared commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Members of the Clark community can nominate undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff, student organizations, campus offices, departments, centers, academic or administrative programs, and Clark partnerships within the broader Worcester community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ashley Pascua Valois \u201925, MPA \u201926<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"student](\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/AshleyValois_Headshot-768x1024.jpg\")
Ashley Pascua Valois \u201925, MPA \u201926<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nValois, who was raised in Oahu, Hawai\u2019i, and immigrated from the Philippines, just received a bachelor\u2019s in political science and is enrolled in the Master\u2019s in Public Administration<\/a> 4+1 Accelerated Master\u2019s Degree<\/a> program. She hopes to become a lawyer and is working this summer as a federal policy intern at Results of America. Valois started her Clark career as an Advancing Clark Excellence (ACE) Summer Institute<\/a> mentee and became a Connections@Clark<\/a> mentor. She\u2019s been very involved on campus, serving as a resident advisor, undergraduate student body president, and in several roles in the Asian Student Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cI am extremely grateful and honored to be recognized. It is surreal that I have reached the end of my undergraduate collegiate career, and I am grateful for the growth that Clark University has nurtured in me. I am surrounded by bright and inspiring individuals, and I will be forever indebted to this place,\u201d says Valois.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo me, diversity and inclusion is a prismatic superpower that we need to pour resources and support into. We can appear as one light, but internally, we are a beautiful rainbow of what makes Clark, Clark,\u201d Valois says. \u201cMany people come to Clark University with different identities and experiences that shape who they are now and who they will become in the future. I grew up in Hawai\u2019i, where I would always come across someone who did not share my identities, and I became a better person because of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe work is never-ending. There is always an opportunity to be more inclusive and to uplift diverse voices. Especially with the current climate, diversity and inclusion are necessary to combat hate and misinformation. To me, the work of diversity and inclusion is lifelong, a commitment to honoring every shade of the spectrum we each bring to the table. Like a prism, we may appear as one light from the outside, but when we are supported, valued, and understood, we reveal a full spectrum of brilliance. As I move forward, I carry with me this vision: to continue creating spaces where that light can shine, fully, freely, and unapologetically.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Peyton <\/strong>Wu<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"headshot\"](\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/Wu-Peyton-Headshot.jpg\")
Director for Student Engagement and Equity Peyton Wu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWu is passionate about equity, inclusion, social justice, leadership, and identity development. They joined Clark in May 2019 as the associate director for Identity, Student Engagement, and Access<\/a> and transitioned into their current role as the Director for Student Engagement and Equity in August 2024. Wu has a master\u2019s in student affairs in higher education from Miami University and a bachelor\u2019s in history and a certificate in LGBTQ Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cIt is an immense privilege and honor to be recognized by the Clark community for this award. I entered the field of higher education hoping to make a difference in the lives of students, paying forward the time and investments made in me as an undergraduate student,\u201d says Wu. \u201cDuring my time at Clark, I have been blessed to be able to work with and be supervised by incredible social justice advocates. I am humbled to be a part of this community of scholars and leaders who are fighting for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and am looking forward to continuing to do this work at Clark University.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ora Szekely<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"professor](\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/Ora-Szekely-Headshot-scaled.jpg\")
Political Science Professor Ora Szekely<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Valois, who was raised in Oahu, Hawai\u2019i, and immigrated from the Philippines, just received a bachelor\u2019s in political science and is enrolled in the Master\u2019s in Public Administration<\/a> 4+1 Accelerated Master\u2019s Degree<\/a> program. She hopes to become a lawyer and is working this summer as a federal policy intern at Results of America. Valois started her Clark career as an Advancing Clark Excellence (ACE) Summer Institute<\/a> mentee and became a Connections@Clark<\/a> mentor. She\u2019s been very involved on campus, serving as a resident advisor, undergraduate student body president, and in several roles in the Asian Student Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am extremely grateful and honored to be recognized. It is surreal that I have reached the end of my undergraduate collegiate career, and I am grateful for the growth that Clark University has nurtured in me. I am surrounded by bright and inspiring individuals, and I will be forever indebted to this place,\u201d says Valois.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTo me, diversity and inclusion is a prismatic superpower that we need to pour resources and support into. We can appear as one light, but internally, we are a beautiful rainbow of what makes Clark, Clark,\u201d Valois says. \u201cMany people come to Clark University with different identities and experiences that shape who they are now and who they will become in the future. I grew up in Hawai\u2019i, where I would always come across someone who did not share my identities, and I became a better person because of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe work is never-ending. There is always an opportunity to be more inclusive and to uplift diverse voices. Especially with the current climate, diversity and inclusion are necessary to combat hate and misinformation. To me, the work of diversity and inclusion is lifelong, a commitment to honoring every shade of the spectrum we each bring to the table. Like a prism, we may appear as one light from the outside, but when we are supported, valued, and understood, we reveal a full spectrum of brilliance. As I move forward, I carry with me this vision: to continue creating spaces where that light can shine, fully, freely, and unapologetically.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wu is passionate about equity, inclusion, social justice, leadership, and identity development. They joined Clark in May 2019 as the associate director for Identity, Student Engagement, and Access<\/a> and transitioned into their current role as the Director for Student Engagement and Equity in August 2024. Wu has a master\u2019s in student affairs in higher education from Miami University and a bachelor\u2019s in history and a certificate in LGBTQ Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is an immense privilege and honor to be recognized by the Clark community for this award. I entered the field of higher education hoping to make a difference in the lives of students, paying forward the time and investments made in me as an undergraduate student,\u201d says Wu. \u201cDuring my time at Clark, I have been blessed to be able to work with and be supervised by incredible social justice advocates. I am humbled to be a part of this community of scholars and leaders who are fighting for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and am looking forward to continuing to do this work at Clark University.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nPeyton <\/strong>Wu<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ora Szekely<\/h3>\n\n\n\n