Workplace Inclusion and Belonging

Annual Award

Workplace Inclusion & Belonging Annual 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 programming accessible to all Californians and to foster a more inclusive community for all employees.

Open the 

2026 NOMINATION SUBMISSION FORM 

 

Past Award Recipients

Eliot Freutel wearing glasses and a black shirt, and a gray background

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.

 

Ricardo Vela with glasses and a blue shirt smiling, and a blurred background

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.

Award Nominations 2026

Nominations open March 17 to April 15, 2026.

Nominations are reviewed April 20 to May 1, 2026.

Award Winners are announced at June ERAP Town Hall.

Overview

The Workplace Inclusion & Belonging Annual Award recognizes individuals and/or teams within UC ANR who demonstrate exceptional commitment to fostering an equitable, inclusive, and respectful workplace. This award reflects UC ANR’s deepened intentional commitment to the Principles of Community and to cultivating a culture where all people feel valued and supported to thrive.

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. 

Nomination & Selection Process

  • Call for Nominations: Announced via the Workplace Inclusion & Belonging website and blog, Employee News, and collaborative platforms
  • Submission: Nominations may be submitted by peers, supervisors, colleagues, or by self-nomination, and must describe the nominee’s contributions and impact
  • Review: A selection committee composed of representatives from the Inclusive Community Advisory Council and Employee Groups will review nominations
  • Final Selection: The Director of Workplace Inclusion & Belonging will confirm award recipients based on committee recommendations 

Award Recognition

  • Public recognition at the annual Staff Recognition and Awards Ceremony
  • Recipient name(s) added to a commemorative plaque at the 2nd Street location
  • Recipient (s) receive a Certificate Award plaque
  • UC ANR Lands’ End Clothing Item(s) up to $100 for an individual or Team Gift of up to $400 total maximum 

Strong Applications include:

  • Specific Example (s)
  • Background of the Nominee within UC ANR
  • Measurable Impact
  • Efforts that showcase relational leadership
  • Consistent actions over time showing a broad impact on internal/external UC ANR communities
  • Direct connection to the Principles of Community and action (s) that uphold the principles
  • Strong Nominations are usually 300 – 500 words