Utrecht University: Louise Autar wins the Diversity & Inclusion Award 2021

On Wednesday 31 March, Diversity Dean Janneke Plantenga presented the Diversity & Inclusion Award to Louise Autar, docent aan de departementen Taal & Cultuurstudies, Liberal Arts & Sciences en Genderstudies van de Universiteit Utrecht.

This year, the committee received nine nominations and selected a top three: Programma Opmaat /Donya Yassine, Team Onderwijsadvies & training and Louise Autar. Besides winning the Diversity & Inclusion Award, Louise receives an amount of €2.500,- to spend on diversity and inclusion within Utrecht University .

Activities to promote inclusion among students
Louise Autar receives the Diversity & Inclusion Award for her efforts in several areas for diversity and inclusion. The jury members consider Louise’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, in addition to her regular teaching duties, to be special. Much praise goes to Louise’s attention for colleagues and students of colour and especially for her activities aimed at inclusion among students. For instance, she organised the Un/Divided conference for students who want to take action to increase diversity and inclusion at Dutch universities. This conference gave rise to STAR (Space to Talk about Race), a platform for students of colour. The many letters of support the jury received also show that many colleagues are proud of Louise’s contributions to diversity and inclusion.

Impact inside and outside Utrecht University
In addition, her activities have had an impact both inside and outside Utrecht University. Louise is also a member of the advisory board of the Students4Students campaign of ECHO, subsidised by the Ministry of Education and Culture to put diversity on the agenda by institutionalising student actions.