University of Redlands
The Culpepper Award, named after Professor Emily Culpepper, the founder of Women’s Studies at U of R, was created to honor a student who demonstrates outstanding work in service, activism, and academics. In the spirit of Emily's lifetime dedication to social change, we also look for a student dedicated to social transformation. This year the award was presented to Alyssa Haney.
Alyssa has demonstrated excellence academically in her major in WGS with her outstanding senior capstone titled “Racial Bias in the United States Foster Care System,” as well as in all of her coursework. She was on the Dean’s list every semester with a cumulative GPA over 3.7. Alyssa also embodies Emily Culpepper’s commitment to social transformation in her community service work to Option House, the shelter for domestic violence survivors in San Bernardino—which has become a paid position. She also helped organize the WGS conference for two years—both times as a key organizer. This year she was central to pulling off a very successful online conference, helping to lead the WGS conference organizing class, and she continued to develop the WGS conference website. Alyssa will be going on to graduate school to earn a Master’s in Social Work, continuing her dedication to social transformation and service to her communities.
Congratulations, Alyssa!
Jennifer Nelson, Ph.D.
Professor & Director
Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program
Public Policy Program
University of Redlands
