Librarian Donna E. Coghill, an advocate for diversity initiatives in the university and Richmond communities, is a 2012 recipient of the Burnside Watstein LGBT Award.
The award is given annually by the LGBT Subcommitee of VCU's Equity
and Diversity Committee to one or more
individuals who enrich the community at VCU and make a significant
difference in the lives of LGBT faculty, staff and students. In addition to Coghill, graduate student Morgan Krug and Dorothy Fillmore, associate director of academic operations for the department of psychology, also will be honored at a public ceremony March 29 at 3:30 p.m. at the Scott House, 909 W. Franklin St.
"In recognizing Donna, the committee has chosen one of VCU's most energetic, dedicated, and creative supporters of the LGBT community," said University Librarian John E. Ulmschneider in his announcement of Coghill's honor to VCU Libraries staff and faculty.
He wrote: "Donna long has been an inspired voice for equality and diversity at VCU, and has been unstinting of her time and energy in her work on a broad range of activities in support of the LGBT community. She has been a long-term member of the Provost's Equity and Diversity Committee and its LGBT Subcommittee, serving as its first secretary and also as co-chair. Her focused and principled work ethic has been a driving engine for many of the subcommittee's initiatives and accomplishments, from the ice cream socials and the Safe Zone Training Program to Pridefest and more. Her exceptional interpersonal skills have brought together scores of students, faculty, and staff to support the LGBT community in myriad ways, all the while with a freshness of spirit and engagement that has inspired even more members of the VCU and broader community to lend their support."
As VCU Libraries' First Year Student Programs Librarian, Coghill has broad responsibilities for helping new students learn research practices and making them feel welcome and confident in library and class settings. She teaches library classes and works closely with projects that orient and support new students.
As a double alumna, she has close ties to VCU. She holds a B.F.A. in theater and a M.F.A. in directing. She has served in varied positions at VCU Libraries. Previously, she worked in arts education. She is active in Richmond theater.
This honor for Coghill has special cachet for VCU Libraries. The award was named in part for Sarah Barbara Watstein, who is the University Librarian at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Previously, she was Associate University Librarian at VCU. The award is also named for Chris Burnside, choreographer, performer and a former dance professor. Burnside worked with Special Collections and Archives at Cabell Library to deposit an exceptional collection of videos, papers and other materials documenting his influential work in dance.
Said Ulmschneider: "Together, Chris and Sarah earned the lasting esteem and respect of their colleagues throughout the university in their steadfast pursuit of fairness and equity for all members of the VCU community. The distinguished heritage of the Burnside Watstein Award makes this recognition of our library colleague especially meaningful for all of us in the VCU Libraries."
Coghill's cv
Event Facebook page
The award is given annually by the LGBT Subcommitee of VCU's Equity
and Diversity Committee to one or more
individuals who enrich the community at VCU and make a significant
difference in the lives of LGBT faculty, staff and students. In addition to Coghill, graduate student Morgan Krug and Dorothy Fillmore, associate director of academic operations for the department of psychology, also will be honored at a public ceremony March 29 at 3:30 p.m. at the Scott House, 909 W. Franklin St. "In recognizing Donna, the committee has chosen one of VCU's most energetic, dedicated, and creative supporters of the LGBT community," said University Librarian John E. Ulmschneider in his announcement of Coghill's honor to VCU Libraries staff and faculty.
He wrote: "Donna long has been an inspired voice for equality and diversity at VCU, and has been unstinting of her time and energy in her work on a broad range of activities in support of the LGBT community. She has been a long-term member of the Provost's Equity and Diversity Committee and its LGBT Subcommittee, serving as its first secretary and also as co-chair. Her focused and principled work ethic has been a driving engine for many of the subcommittee's initiatives and accomplishments, from the ice cream socials and the Safe Zone Training Program to Pridefest and more. Her exceptional interpersonal skills have brought together scores of students, faculty, and staff to support the LGBT community in myriad ways, all the while with a freshness of spirit and engagement that has inspired even more members of the VCU and broader community to lend their support."
As VCU Libraries' First Year Student Programs Librarian, Coghill has broad responsibilities for helping new students learn research practices and making them feel welcome and confident in library and class settings. She teaches library classes and works closely with projects that orient and support new students.
As a double alumna, she has close ties to VCU. She holds a B.F.A. in theater and a M.F.A. in directing. She has served in varied positions at VCU Libraries. Previously, she worked in arts education. She is active in Richmond theater.
This honor for Coghill has special cachet for VCU Libraries. The award was named in part for Sarah Barbara Watstein, who is the University Librarian at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Previously, she was Associate University Librarian at VCU. The award is also named for Chris Burnside, choreographer, performer and a former dance professor. Burnside worked with Special Collections and Archives at Cabell Library to deposit an exceptional collection of videos, papers and other materials documenting his influential work in dance.
Said Ulmschneider: "Together, Chris and Sarah earned the lasting esteem and respect of their colleagues throughout the university in their steadfast pursuit of fairness and equity for all members of the VCU community. The distinguished heritage of the Burnside Watstein Award makes this recognition of our library colleague especially meaningful for all of us in the VCU Libraries."
Coghill's cv
Event Facebook page