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Earlier this month, Ricardo Kairios, Family and Community Health Sciences (FCHS) Educator and Assistant Professor for Mercer County, was proud to receive the Faculty Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Excellence Award. This distinguished honor recognizes individuals and teams across the Rutgers University School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station who exemplify creativity, innovation, and impactful engagement in advancing the mission of the land-grant university.
Ricardo was selected for this award in recognition of his groundbreaking efforts to address food security and health equity for individuals within the LGBTQIA2S+ community and his impactful outreach to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in education and community engagement. His dedication to creating a more inclusive and equitable community aligns with Rutgers’ commitment to fostering positive change and addressing critical societal issues.
During his acceptance speech, Ricardo expressed heartfelt gratitude for the collaborative efforts of his county partners, including the Mercer County Division of Public Health, County Executive Dan Benson, and the many outstanding community-based organizations that have dedicated themselves to supporting these initiatives. He also took a moment to celebrate the resilience and strength of the LGBTQIA2S+ community within Mercer County and beyond.
Earlier this year, Ricardo co-founded the Mercer County LGBTQIA2S+ Community Coalition alongside a group of committed local partners. To learn more about the coalition and explore ways to get involved, please contact Ricardo at Ricardo.Kairios@rutgers.edu.
Join us in congratulating Ricardo for this well-deserved recognition and his continued work to build a stronger, more inclusive Mercer County!