INSIGHT Into Diversity Magazine awarded President Eric Barron with its Giving Back Award, an honor recognizing college professors and chancellors who go beyond their job requirements in diversity leadership, commitment to charitable service, and community service initiatives.

Assistant Dean for educational equity in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Victoria Sanchez nominated Barron for the award and an INSIGHT panel sealed the deal.

“I could put a lot of words around it, but basically it comes down to the fact that Dr. Barron really gets the need for equity, and he’s very willing to stand up for it,” Sanchez’s recommendation noted.

Barron’s Penn State Values, as obvious as they may be, highlight diversity, respectfulness, and inclusiveness. He’s spoken out about ethnic intimidation at Penn State, insisting that it will not be tolerated. “There is no place for hate, overt or subtle, at Penn State – such actions do not represent our mutually held values,” Barron said in a letter to the Penn State community.

“The Giving Back Award is being given to leaders of institutions of higher education who exemplify what it truly means to ‘give back’ to others.These presidents and chancellors are role models, and we honor their efforts to give back to everyone on their campuses and in their communities,” INSIGHT publisher Lenore Pearlstein told Penn State.