The Women of Color in the Academy Project is proud to announce that this year's Shirley Verrett Award will be presented to Charles (OyamO) Gordon, Professor of English Language and Literature, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, and Professor of Theatre and Drama, School of Music, Theatre & Dance. This award recognizes a U-M faculty member whose work has supported the success of women in creative fields who come from diverse cultural and racial backgrounds and advances diversity as part of the University's educational mission.

The award ceremony will be preceded by a light reception and include performances by acclaimed opera singer Marcia Porter and Daniel Washington, U-M's Associate Dean for Faculty and Multi-Cultural Affairs and Professor of Voice in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance.

There will also be a tribute to Lester Monts, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs,
and the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Music (Ethnomusicology) in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, for his unwavering support and advocacy for WOCAP, and his vision for establishing the Shirley Verrett Award as a way of keeping her legacy alive at U-M.