Business Affairs’ Kathleen Carter-Stiggers Earns President’s Distinguished Diversity Award

April 16, 2019

 

Kathleen Carter-Stiggers will receive the President’s Distinguished Diversity Award at the 2018-2019 UTSA University Excellence Awards Ceremony, held from 2 to 3 p.m., April 18, at the HSU Ballrooms. She represents UTSA’s commitment to becoming a more inclusive campus, promoting an environment where all members of the UTSA community can engage, learn and thrive.

Kathleen Carter-Stiggers Diversity AwardKathleen personifies the qualities required of the Diversity Award, helping the UTSA community think about and practice diversity and inclusion in creative and collaborative ways. She supports cross-cultural organizations on and off campus, including the UTSA Department of Social Work, The Ruth Jones McClendon Chapter of the National Council of Negro Women Inc., and NAACP. She’s been an active member of the MLK Commission Board and District 2 Community Leaders. Kathleen inspires others around her to initiate and continue diversity-related practices and activities. She often says, “Treating people fairly and justly is a requirement, it is not an option.”

Kathleen is known for her warm welcome and embrace of all people, whether she just met them or has known them for years. She truly embodies the core values of UTSA, especially that of education. She was chosen by the City of San Antonio’s MLK Commission Executive Board as the Fundraising Chair for its 501c3 nonprofit arm. Kathleen works with businesses and others to raise money for College Scholarship open to all Bexar County high school seniors.

She served as 3rd Vice President of the local NAACP chapter for six years. Among her many activities there, she participated in the reenactment of the 50th anniversary of the original March on Washington by the NAACP and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Former U.S. President Barack Obama held a special celebration during that event. Kathleen was also able to secure more than 10,000 items to be donated at the 2018 NAACP National Conference held in San Antonio. It was because of her networking and UTSA’s core values of diversity and inclusion that many UTSA departments contributed to those 10,000 items.

As Employee Relations Advisor II, Kathleen continually advocates for everyone’s right to work in an environment free from discrimination, intimidation, and inequality. She was chosen to be part of a panel, by the UTSA Department of Social Work to help students understand the importance of community involvement. Many attendees spoke to her after the class to gain insight on good organizations that could help advance their career paths. Kathleen then connected many students with their target organizations, thanks to the strong relationships she has nurtured over the years. Her efforts contribute to UTSA students’ success. 

Whether on campus or in the San Antonio community, Kathleen constantly strives for equal opportunity for all. We congratulate her on winning the President’s Distinguished Diversity Award and salute her for serving as a model for the President’s Initiative on Inclusive Excellence.

- Business Affairs