Yashwant Prakash Vyas, director of UNH’s Aulbani J. Beauregard Center for Equity, Justice, and Freedom and adjunct faculty of management in the Paul College of Business and Economics, was recognized with the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Award for Region 1 from NASPA at its 2023 annual conference in Portland, Maine.
Vyas was also appointed to NASPA’s inaugural Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Division Leadership Council
NASPA, an organization representing student affairs administrators in higher education, is the largest association in student affairs with a diverse network of professionals and institutions across the globe. NASPA Region I encompasses the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont in the USA; and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec.
“Yashwant is truly an exceptional agent for change. He continues to demonstrate an unwavering dedication to advancing equity and inclusion in higher education through his work,” says Nadine Petty, chief diversity officer and associate vice president for the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “NASPA is lucky to have him on their JEDI Leadership Council as I am sure he has much to offer.”
The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Award acknowledges an individual who embraces the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to create learning environments that are enriched with diverse views and people. The recipient has strong and sustained record of professional and/or civic involvement in activities that promote diversity and inclusion in education and/or the community; actively engaged in advocating for and advancing diversity and inclusion in the profession through one’s administrative and/or academic work; reputation for taking a stand on critical issues related to diversity and inclusion even at risk to one’s reputation and vocation; and whose work has “broken barriers.”
Vyas also joins NASPA’s inaugural Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Division Leadership Council. The purpose of the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Division is to raise the visibility of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice issues in the Association, the student affairs profession, and higher education at large. As such, the Division's role is to support and help advance NASPA's commitment to equity and justice. Vyas started his two-year term on the council this month.
“Yashwant's ongoing efforts and leadership in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion have made a lasting impact on our campus and the broader field of higher education. He has consistently taken a stand for equity and inclusion, and his efforts have increased educational access and opportunity for our students and beyond,” says Michael Blackman, UNH dean of students. “I was thrilled that Yashwant was awarded the NASPA Region I Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award and appointed to NASPA's inaugural Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Division Leadership Council. His accomplishments exemplify this recognition.”
