KUCIMAT Award for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
This award recognizes individuals or communities that are playing a leadership role in placing the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion as local government priorities. Through their actions, the recipients of this award will have made a lasting impact on their community, organization, and/or field of public administration by advancing policies of social justice, creating public spaces that are safe for all, or reforming systems that traditionally suppressed civic participation.
2022 Winner
Kirsten C. Decker
(MPA 2014)
Kirsten serves as the manager of strategy and innovation at the Denver Public Library. She oversaw the design, formulation, and implementation of the Library's strategic plan, its program evaluation framework, and translated data into insights and stories.
Kirsten led Values in Action teams comprised of over 60 individuals across disciplines of the library system and the community. COVID hit at the beginning of the process, but Kirsten found innovative ways to gather feedback from stakeholders and successfully received input from over 75% of the organization. The fact that 3 out of 4 employees contributed to the strategic planning process is a testament to Kirsten's work ethic and dedication to the process.
Past Winners
| Year | Name | Title/Organization |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Kirsten C. Decker | Manager of Strategy and Evaluation, Denver Public Library |
| 2021 | Joshua Robinson | Senior Associate, Network Manager, Living Cities |
| 2020 | Phillip Smith-Hanes | County Administrator, Saline County, KS |