TAMIU's Dr. Adam Kozaczka Honored at A&M System Chancellor's Summit on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The Texas A&M University System has named Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) assistant professor of English Dr. Adam Kozaczka as one of 12 distinguished A&M System faculty and professionals awarded the 2022 Chancellor's Medallion for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Award recipients were recognized at the 2022 Chancellor's Summit on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, hosted by TAMIU last week. The virtual event convened over 1,030 participants from across the A&M System. Participants discussed diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives taking place at all System campuses.

Dr. Kevin Kruger, president of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), delivered the keynote address, titled, "How the COVID-19 Pandemic has Intensified the Equity Challenges Facing Higher Education." His presentation emphasized how equity challenges that were present prior to the Pandemic have been amplified over the last two years. He noted how first-generation and low-income students and students of color experienced increased challenges to college enrollment, college persistence and completion, mental health, and career progression.

An institutional and faculty panel at the Summit explored the topic, "Transforming the Landscape of Higher Education in Texas: Reflections on Institutional Principles and Practices of Texas A&M System Universities," and a  student leaders' panel discussed student-led DEI initiatives and perspectives across System campuses.

The Chancellor's Medallion honorees were chosen by System presidents as having best exemplified the work of diversity, equity and inclusion at their respective campuses.

Of his nomination of Dr. Kozaczka, TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz said Kozaczka has contributed tremendously to DEI efforts at TAMIU as a member of TAMIU's Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee (TIDE).

"Dr. Kozaczka has assisted in writing content for TIDE's website and has contributed his views on DEI through published and posted interviews," Dr. Arenaz said, "Perhaps one of his most significant contributions to date in the area of DEI at TAMIU has been the procurement of the Humanities Texas grant in the delivery of the 'Diverse Cultures, Diverse Humanities' Lecture Series."

The seven-part series has provided ongoing conversations about issues connected to DEI and has brought top humanists and creative writers to share their experiences and expertise with the community.

Kozaczka said he is honored to receive the award.

"I am honored to be chosen for this prestigious award, and even more honored to have the opportunity to work together with the TIDE committee and especially with its co-chairs, Dr. Peter Haruna and Ms. Mika Akikuni," he said, "Growing from the vision of our University provost Dr. Thomas Mitchell, and receiving support from the College of Arts and Sciences dean Dr. Claudia San Miguel, the TIDE committee has been a positive force for change and a source of cultural awareness on the TAMIU campus."

Kozaczka continued, "It is humbling to be part of TIDE and to be acknowledged by President Pablo Arenaz, Chancellor John Sharp and the A&M System. Go Dustdevils!"

Kozaczka also serves as TAMIU's Women's and Gender Studies (WGST) program coordinator.

The WGST program helps to address today's employers' need for social justice awareness by prospective employees. The WGST minor uses an interdisciplinary approach to study gender in culture and society and the achievements of women in the arts, literature, the sciences and other human endeavors. The program delves into cross-cultural, historical and multicultural aspects of gender.

Born and raised in a bilingual English-Polish home in New York State, Kozaczka earned his Ph.D. in English from Syracuse University, where he began an interdisciplinary project in law and literature, pieces of which are in print and forthcoming in a number of academic journals. Deeply invested in public humanities programming, he recently received two Humanities Texas grants to facilitate virtual speaker events designed to promote and explore diversity in the humanities.

In addition to Kozaczka, this year's honorees included Dr. Jerel Benton, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi; Darrell Brown, Tarleton State University; Barbara Collins, Texas A&M University-Kingsville; Dr. Jayson Douglas, Texas A&M University-Commerce; Dr. Kristina Drumheller, West Texas A&M University; Tina Flores-Nevarez, Texas A&M University-Central Texas; Dr. Eli Jones, Texas A&M University; Dr. Brian Matthews, Texas A&M University-Texarkana; Daisey McCloud, Texas A&M University-Galveston; Dr. Nathan Mitchell, Prairie View A&M University, and Dr. Lawrence Scott, Texas A&M University-San Antonio.

 About the Texas A&M University System

The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a budget of $9.6 billion. Through a statewide network of 11 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, and the RELLIS Campus, the Texas A&M System educates more than 152,000 students and makes more than 24 million additional educational contacts through service and outreach programs each year. System-wide, research and development expenditures exceed $1 billion and help drive the state’s economy.