Cheryl Love, Ph.D., career counselor, Clothes Closest coordinator in the Career Center and adjunct faculty in the CEIS Educational Leadership Department, is the recipient of the 2021 Presidential Recognition Award by the National Career Development Association (NCDA).
The NCDA is a national organization that provides professional development, publications, standards, and advocacy to practitioners and educators who inspire and empower individuals to achieve career and life goals.
The award specifically recognizes her work in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and will be awarded at the virtual 2021 Global Career Development Conference that takes place June 29 – July 1.
“[Dr. Love] has been a strong leader for the Diversity Initiatives and Cultural Inclusion Committee, which has informed NCDA and the broader career services field about critical elements of cultural diversity and inclusion,” said Seth Hayden, Ph.D., President of NCDA. “We have benefited greatly from her leadership.”
Said Love, “I feel called to do this work as this is the key to helping students be successful not only at Cal Poly Pomona but in the larger global community. Helping students to find their passion and live their life out loud; doing this work can change lives.”
At Cal Poly Pomona and beyond, Love has been a fierce advocate for diversity and inclusion efforts. She has worked as a facilitator on the annual Diversity Ambassador Program alternate Spring Break trip, assisted in bringing the Poly Pantry to campus through the Food and Housing Security Task Force, served on the Student Affairs Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee and CEIS Social Justice Advisory Board, and volunteered at various community and outreach departments in her area, including the All Unity Baptist Food Distribution Program for the last 16 years helping to feed the homeless and families in need.
“One of my favorite researchers and scholars is Dr. Bettina Love (no relation) who uses abolitionist teaching to show the work we must do to help students not merely survive, but thrive in the world,” said Love. “In order to do this, we must advocate and fight to change systems that are inherently racist so that diversity, equity and inclusion are not just words, but truly our lived experience.
Bringing about this lived experience has been Love’s mission throughout her career, especially moving forward.
“Maya Angelou said it best when she stated, ‘my mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive, and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style,’” she added. “So each day I try to live my life doing just that – striving to thrive and to help others do the same.”