2026 Workplace Inclusion & Belonging Award

Rooted in the UC ANR Principles of Community, the Workplace Inclusion & Belonging Annual Award recognizes UC ANR staff and academics who go above and beyond in their work to make UC ANR accessible while fostering a more inclusive community for all employees and Californians.

Past Award Recipients

2025 - Eliot Freutel is honored for weaving inclusion and belonging into every aspect of his work—providing trusted diversity, equity, and inclusion leadership, building cross-cultural partnerships, and removing barriers through accessible, culturally relevant stewardship education that measurably increased participation and equity-focused action.

2024 - Ricardo Vela is honored for championing inclusion and belonging at UC ANR by building community for Latino employees, leading equity-focused education and affinity initiatives, and dramatically expanding culturally responsive Spanish and Indigenous-language outreach to underserved Californians.

Objectives

• Recognize individuals and teams making significant contributions beyond their position expectations to build meaningful contributions toward an inclusive community where everyone has an equitable opportunity to grow.
• Encourage practices that strengthen community, access, and connection.
• Highlight sustainable and innovative approaches that can be shared/adopted across ANR.
• Inspire collaboration and continue learning across different roles and units.

Eligibility

This award is open to all UC ANR employees, programs, units, and teams.

Award Categories

Individual Award

Honors employees whose personal efforts are notable in significantly advancing an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment. Recipients demonstrate leadership through everyday actions, relationship-building, and removing barriers to participation and belonging.

Team Award

Honors a unit or team whose collective actions have gone above and beyond in strengthening organizational culture through collaboration, shared leadership, and sustained efforts to address structural or cultural barriers to inclusion. 

Award Criteria

Nominees will be evaluated based on the following criteria: Nominations should include information and specific examples of the following, which show that an individual or team has gone above and beyond their position.

1. Impact – Demonstrated meaningful impact on cultivating community and belonging through their role.
2. Inclusive Leadership – Advances inclusive values and practices through relational leadership in their role. (((. (do not need a leadership title to advance values)
3. Collaboration – Engagement with diverse internal or external stakeholders or partners to foster shared outcomes within their role.
4. Innovation & Adaptability – Creative or responsive approaches that address evolving community needs through their role.
5. Sustainability – Evidence of lasting commitment and long-term integration of inclusive practices through their role.
6. Principles of Community – Consistent actions that reflect and uphold UC ANR Principles of Community. 

For more information and tips on a strong nomination, please visit The Workplace Inclusion & Belonging Annual Award  website or email Elizabeth Moon, Director of Workplace Inclusion & Belonging, emoon@ucanr.edu