John Zilvinskis, an MSU alumnus who received a master’s degree in student affairs administration (SAA) in 2011, recently received the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Building Bridges Award from Indiana University-Bloomington. The award is given annually to college students, faculty, staff and community members who embody the spirit of Dr. King.

Zilvinskis was recognized for his outstanding efforts to address threats against students based on their sexual orientation. As residence coordinator at IU, Zilvinskis organized a collaborative program of seven university offices that included the development of learning outcomes, creation of assessment tools and distribution of data.

Another ’11 MSU SAA graduate, Robert Brown, was recently chosen to participate in Washington University’s new weeklong study abroad program, the Global Diversity Overseas Seminar. Brown, who works as the university’s residential college director, is one of six applicants selected for the program, out of 95 total applicants.

Designed exclusively for WU faculty and staff, the overseas seminar aims to encourage a fuller appreciation of diversity on campus by introducing participants into dramatically different cultural contexts. Brown and two others will travel to Shanghai, China, and Fudan University, where participants will consider issues related to ethnic minorities and urban change. The other three will travel to Paris to explore the issues of religious and ethnic pluralism.

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Tags: Alumni, Award, indiana university, john zilvinskis, robert brown, student affairs administration, study abroad, washington university