Each year the President’s Community Advisory Committee on Diversity presents a Mary Washington student with the Citizenship Award for Diversity Leadership. This award is given to a rising senior enrolled in the University, who possesses strong characteristics of leadership and demonstrates a personal commitment – advocating for diversity and inclusion across campus. Once the recipient is chosen he or she serves as an ambassador for diversity, a peer mentor to underrepresented students, and a voice for underrepresented populations to the faculty and staff.
Once chosen as the recipient of the Citizenship Award for Diversity Leadership, the recipient will be asked to serve in various capacities throughout the 2022-2023 academic year. The ongoing service agenda will be mutually beneficial, service will be provided to the campus community, and the student will continue to develop academically and socially.
Cameron Washington
2022 – 2023 Citizenship Award for Diversity Leadership Recipient
Cameron Washington is a senior majoring in Communications and minoring in Digital Studies. Originally from Tappahannock, Virginia, he currently resides in Richmond and plans to work in User Interface and eventually Mortuary work after completing his undergraduate studies. Part of his career path in Mortuary work is driven by his desire of serving people in a time of need, especially during times of grief, as well as continuing the legacy of his late father, who was also a mortician.
Throughout his time at Mary Washington, Cameron has been involved with many multicultural and social justice clubs and events. He currently serves as president of Brothers of a New Direction (BOND), as well as serving as secretary of Voices of Praise. In addition, he is a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) College Chapter. Being active with these clubs and organizations has given him the opportunity to enjoy educating and engaging with his peers and uplifting the culture of Black people. He has also participated in various other social justice activities, including the Social Justice Fall Break Trip of 2019, Social Justice and Leadership Summits, Human Rights Film Series events, and volunteered at multiple MLK Day of Service activities. Through these endeavors, Cameron strives to make sure that students from marginalized communities are heard and advocated for on numerous issues.
Cameron’s other leadership positions include serving as a Diversity Peer Educator/Farmer Fellow. This year, he was promoted to student co-coordinator of the program. In this role, he serves to educate and enhance awareness in competency on cultural diversity, inclusion, equity, and social justice topics for fellow students. As a student co-coordinator, Cameron plays a significant role in developing curriculum materials for diversity education sessions, facilitating various diversity workshops, and assisting in the training of new Farmer Fellows to the program. He is also a student aide with the James Farmer Multicultural Center, where he has worked for almost 4 years.
Cameron is passionate about advancing the values of diversity, inclusion and social justice, and giving people of marginalized communities, especially Black people, a space to dialogue, network, and build coalitions with each other. In his final year here at Mary Washington, he plans to continue this involvement as the recipient of the 2022-2023 Citizenship Award for Diversity Leadership by creating more opportunities, events and safe spaces for people to learn more about each other, developing more awareness and appreciation of the differences and uniqueness individuals bring to the campus and society, and encouraging everyone to embrace the ASPIRE values that undergird the UMW community.
Applications/Nominations are closed at this time.
To apply for the Citizenship Award for Diversity presented annually during the Diversity Program, which is part of Orientation Week, a student must complete the application as well as submit one (1) faculty or staff recommendation. Faculty and Staff may nominate students for this award as well.
If you have questions, contact the James Farmer Multicultural Center at 540-654-1044 or msanford@umw.edu .