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U of M names recipients of 2008 Josie R. Johnson Human Rights and Social Justice Award

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL ( 4/18/2008 ) -- The University of Minnesota's Office for Equity and Diversity has named Ananya Chatterjea, associate professor of theatre arts and dance, and Ross Neely, graduate student in social justice education, as the recipients of the 2008 Josie R. Johnson Human Rights and Social Justice Award. The winners will receive their awards at a celebration banquet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at the McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak St. S.E. Minneapolis.

The Josie R. Johnson Award honors University of Minnesota faculty, staff and students each year whose work creates respectful and inclusive living, learning and working environments. The award is named for Johnson, former associate vice president of the university's Office of Multicultural and Academic Affairs and the first African American to serve on the university's Board of Regents. The award was established in 1997 in recognition of Johnson's lifelong contributions to human rights and social justice, including her work in the civil rights movement, years of community service and tenure at the university.

ANANYA CHATTERJEA

Chatterjea, a faculty member of theater arts and dance at the university since 1998, is an internationally recognized dancer, teacher, scholar, writer and choreographer whose work in dance focuses on the promotion of social justice. Using dance as a tool, she brings together people of different cultures to express and address social problems and injustices.

Chatterjea is an active member in the community, the university and the world in paving the way for multicultural change. She created the Ananya Dance Theatre Company in Minneapolis, which explores the issues of minority women's groups through dance and performance. She was one of the founders of the Faculty of Color Initiative, an organization that is committed to the recruitment and retention of faculty of color in the College of Liberal Arts. Dance Magazine recently highlighted her work, calling her a "choreographer for change."

"Her work as an artist and scholar challenges the continuation of discrimination within the context of public space, touching and reflecting on issues of class, gender and race," wrote Rachmi Diyah Larasati, assistant professor in the department of theatre arts and dance, in her letter of nomination for Chatterjea. "To embrace this notion of injustice publicly, though staging a narration of exclusion requires bravery and political commitment to which I assign great respect."

ROSS NEELY

Neely is a graduate student and a staff member in the university's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Ally Programs Office. He is pursuing a master's degree in the master of liberal studies program in the College of Continuing Education, where he is studying the intersection of sexuality, age, ability, race, class and gender and the need for equality among all social identities. Through both his scholarship and his professional capacity, he works to fight all forms of oppression.

Neely is involved in a wide range of community service organizations and initiatives working towards social equality. Through the GLBTA Programs Office, he has worked closely with the Transgender Commission, the Minnesota GLBTA Campus Alliance, and Pride @ Work. He was one of the main organizers of the MN OUT! Campus Conference in 2006 and is also an Ally Trainer, working with colleges, units and departments across the university to help dispel myths and stereotypes about the GLBTA community. His work with the GLBTA Programs Office works to address social inequality around gender and sexuality, and also addresses how these inequalities intersect with those of race, class, ability, age and culture.

"Ross's commitment to, and understanding of, issues of oppression and social justice rival that of any person with whom I have ever worked," said Anne Phibbs, director of the GLBTA Programs Office, in her nomination letter for Neely. "Scholar/activists like Ross play an important role in how we understand, describe and envision our work."

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