Three Huskers — a student and two staff employees — have been named winners of the Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community.
Winners are Kai Meacham, a junior biological systems engineering major, along with Keith Zimmer and DaWon Baker, both with Athletics.
The annual award, recognizes individuals and organizations who create an inclusive, respectful and safe climate for members of the LGBTQA community at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The recipients will be honored during the Lavender Graduation on April 18.
Meacham is being recognized for serving as a peer advocate and working to improve gender-inclusive housing on campus.
Determined to go beyond identifying the problem, Meacham worked with University Housing staff to develop policy process changes. The work led to implementation of a preferred name policy in December 2018 and a new roommate selection process for inclusive housing that goes live in the fall.
Zimmer and Baker will be honored for consistently working to improve the climate within Husker athletics for LBGTQA+ identified student athletes. Nominators praised both for being instrumental in the success of the Husker Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Committee, implementing the Diversity and Inclusion Summit that unites 1,000 student-athletes and staff members to establish a shared vision; working with staff to post visible signs of inclusion for all students; and hosting programming with LGBQ-identified athletes and allies.
Zimmer is a senior associate athletics director and oversees Nebraska’s Life Skills program and the N Club. Baker is the diversity and inclusion director for athletics.
Learn more about the awards and Lavender Graduation at Nebraska.
