School of Social Work

No. 28 M.S.W. Program in the U.S.

B.S.W. student Austin Ezzard wins VCU’s signature award for cross-cultural relations

by VCU School of Social Work Communications
Five award recipients, holding their awards, stand with VCU President Michael Rao
From left, front row: KáLyn “Kay” Coghill, a media, art and text student; Christina Davis, advisor and instructor in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program; Kim Case, Ph.D., professor of psychology and affiliate professor of gender, sexuality and women’s studies; Shawn Utsey, Ph.D., professor of psychology and acting chair of the Department of African American Studies. Back row: Austin Ezzard, a social work student; VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D.

B.S.W. student Austin Ezzard is one of two student winners of the Tristen Sloane Presidential Award for Community Multicultural Enrichment, announced in April as part of VCU’s Presidential Awards for Community Multicultural Enrichment (PACME). Along with Ezzard, other winners are: 

  • Academic and Administrative Leadership Award and Riese-Melton Award: Shawn Utsey, Ph.D., Department of  Psychology and Department of African American Studies
  • Faculty Award: Kim Case, Ph.D., Department of Psychology
  • Staff Award: Christina Davis, Interdisciplinary Studies Program
  • Tristen Sloane Presidential Award for Community Multicultural Enrichment (Student Award): Ezzard and KáLyn “Kay” Coghill

Ezzard is a graduating senior who received a number of awards during the 2022-2023 year, and has been involved with the Office of the President, Office of Student Success, Division of Student Affairs, the School of Social Work and more since his first year at VCU in 2020. He served as the president of Pi Lambda Phi’s VA Omega Rho Chapter at VCU and is a VCU representative to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

Kwame Walker, a VCU social work student and fellow member of Pi Lambda Phi, said Ezzard has won many awards, “but it’s all a testament to his work and his leadership and his drive to the VCU community.”

»  See the full story at VCU News.

Categories Awards and honors, Education, Students
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