Awards winners Stephanie Smelser, Victor Becerra Cano, Taylor Hartman and Clint-Michael Reneau.
The Presidential Commission on Persons with Disabilities (PCPD) serves as a university-wide advocate promoting awareness, educating the university community and assisting individuals on disability-related issues. Each year, the commission selects an outstanding student, faculty or staff member to be honored for their efforts in service, leadership and advocacy to persons with disabilities.
“This is the eighth consecutive year that we have held an awards ceremony to recognize this important work,” said Susan Dalton, who headed up the PCPD awards committee along with Abdoulaye Diallo, associate professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Health Professions, and Kelly Fiala, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences. “As we all know, it is essential for students, faculty, and staff to work together to support access and rights for students with disabilities.”
Meet the 2024 winners!
The Exemplary Advocate Award for Faculty/Staff
The Exemplary Advocate Award is presented to an NIU faculty or staff member with an outstanding record of service and/or leadership to persons with disabilities and the NIU community. Nominees have committed their time, energy and resources as a role model in going above and beyond advocating for disability awareness as well as creating opportunities for advancement for persons with disabilities.
Clint-Michael Reneau
While serving as the vice president for Student Affairs, Clint-Michael Reneau’s expertise and passion for supporting students with disabilities has shone brightly throughout the academic year. Nominators lauded Reneau for creating opportunities for discussion and interactions with students with disabilities at every level of the university. He hosted a panel on the student experience and introduced a “Conversations with Purpose” event, where students with disabilities spoke to senior leadership of various facilities on campus. Nominators noted “his ability to articulate the importance of disability as diversity and creating environments of inclusion has changed the way students with disabilities view themselves and their identities.”
The Gregory Long Award for Excellence in Service and Leadership
The Gregory Long Award for Excellence in Service and Leadership is presented to an NIU student who has engaged in activities to support empowerment as well as limiting stigmatization and discrimination. Additional criteria include outreach, direct involvement with volunteer organizations and leadership in supporting efforts to create system change.
The commission was thrilled to have Dr. Greg Long, a distinguished NIU professor and disability advocate who headed up the PCPD for many years, and his wife, Lori, in attendance as they presented this award in his honor. This year, two deserving students earned this award.
Victor Becerra Cano
Nominators called Victor Becerra Cano an extraordinarily talented student who is seen as a leader within the classroom, someone who “helps fellow classmates who are struggling and is supportive of teammates.” Victor also serves in several leadership positions on campus, including president of Communicative Disorders Student Association (COMDSA), a peer mentor, and bilingual student coordinator for the NIU Autism Caregiver Group. His volunteer activities include involvement with the Hispanic Association of Bilingual Acquisition, the Social Medial Coordinator for Music and Memory, Huskie Food Pantry, and Husky Service Scholar, and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) annual convention.
“He continually dedicates so much of his time serving others,” nominators said. “He is a brilliant, hard-working and compassionate person who exemplifies a commitment to academic excellence, leadership, and clinical service and advocacy for those with disabilities.”
Stephanie Smelser
Stephanie Smelser is known for being a passionate advocate for others. Nominators cited her “impressive background of leadership, advocacy, and awareness for people with disabilities.” She is president of the Rehabilitation Counseling Student Association board, has hosted various guest speaking events, published a paper in the Vocational Evaluation and Career Assessment Journal focusing on rehabilitation and related services for veterans with disabilities, and will be presenting at a national conference this fall. Nominators cited multiple examples of service, volunteerism, fundraising and interdisciplinary education in many areas of the disability community.
“Her leadership and enthusiasm for advocacy is infectious and she has positively influenced other prospective students to enter the profession,” nominators said.
Honors of the Commission award – Taylor Hartman
A new award was created this year to recognize Taylor Hartman for his years of service as PCPD chair. The Honors of the Commission award recognizes Hartman for outstanding leadership as chairperson of PCPD and efforts toward positive improvements for accessibility, representation, and inclusion for persons with disabilities.
“Taylor Hartman has worked tirelessly toward positive improvements for persons with disabilities at NIU and beyond,” said Susan Dalton. “During the past four years he has demonstrated an action-oriented mindset, clear communication, and reliable follow-up. As our leader of well-organized meetings, he addresses the inevitable differences of opinion respectfully.”
Others agreed, adding that Hartman’s leadership is consistently grounded in positivity and collaboration, bringing together experiences and expertise across campus.
The recipients were honored by the commission at a reception on April 18 in Altgeld Hall. Learn more about the Presidential Commission on Persons with Disabilities at NIU.
