Sociology Professor Mary Kunmi Yu Danico was awarded the 2023-2024 Provost Award for Excellence in Service

Written by Adriana Flores Solis

Cal Poly Pomona Sociology Professor Mary Kunmi Yu Danico was awarded the 2023-2024 Provost Award for Excellence in Service. The Provost’s Award for Excellence recognizes Cal Poly Pomona faculty who have stood out in their selective field, such as teaching, scholarly and creative activities, and service. Dr. Danico was the Director of the Michi and Walter Weglyn Endowed Chair, and Asian American Transnational Research Initiative at Cal Poly Pomona. Both of these roles have a commitment to promoting social justice and initiating conversations that concern underrepresented communities. 

Dr. Danico served as the Associate Dean of the College of Environmental Design. She was also President of the Association for Asian American Studies. Dr. Danico has remained committed to the success of her students and the CPP campus, through her involvement in several initiatives that empower students to grow and prosper after graduation. She has mentored students that now work as professors, psychologists, therapists, and school administrators around the nation. 

Dr. Danico was nominated for the Provost Award by Sociology Professor Faye L. Wachs. She said, “I nominated Dr. Danico because in her time here, she has consistently put our students and our educational mission at the forefront of everything she does. Dr. Danico spearheaded a high impact practice peer mentoring program, multiple study abroad experiences, and ran amazing instructional labs. She continues to support her students long after they graduate. I consider her one of my most impactful mentors. She also consistently speaks up for those less able, prioritizes the needs of the most vulnerable, and does inclusivity, instead of talking about it. She has made our department, our college and our university a better place to be, and I will always be grateful for what she has taught me. I am not just a better professor because of Mary, but a better human being.” 

Melisssa Ortiz was the Administrative Support Assistant for Dr. Danico. She said, "Working alongside Weglyn and Mary Danico was a truly enriching experience for me. Mary stood out not only for her exceptional leadership but also for her deep compassion. She genuinely cared about her students, staff, and everyone she interacted with, creating a supportive environment that I was proud to be a part of as an administrative support assistant." Dr. Danico will be recognized at commencement, and at The Provost’s Awards Symposium on October 3, 2024 from 3:00pm-5:00pm. 

Neil Chaturvedi is the 2024-2025 incoming Weglyn Endowed Chair of Multicultural Studies. Dr. Chaturvedi is a Political Science and Public Administration professor at CPP. Dr. Chaturvedi served as the Interim Associate Dean for the College of Education and Integrative Studies. He is dedicated to expanding opportunities for first-generation students of color. He helped start the College of Education and Integrative Studies’ Afrofuturism Initiative, which elevates Black students and addresses the oppression and racism that Black students face in college. 

Congratulations to Dr. Danico and Dr. Chaturvedi, for their commitment to social justice and Cal Poly Pomona students!