UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Patreese Ingram, associate professor of agricultural and extension education in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, has been selected to receive the college's 2005-2006 Diversity Achievement Award, which honors faculty and staff who encourage the valuing, understanding and promotion of diversity through their professional work.

"Dr. Ingram's work is impressive for the quality and effectiveness of her leadership in this area," says Robert Steele, dean of the college. "She excels at developing curricula and programs, teaching within and outside the college, and promoting partnerships that increase the awareness of cultural diversity for students, faculty and community. It is an honor to recognize her work with this award."

"Patreese Ingram has made significant contributions in the area of diversity education," says Tracy Hoover, associate professor and head of the department of agricultural and extension education. "Her leadership and scholarship in the areas of extension, resident instruction and research are acknowledged and commendable. She is most deserving of this award."

"Receiving this award means a great deal to me," says Ingram. "It confirms that the college's leadership places a high level of importance on creating an inclusive environment for our students, staff and constituents, and on preparing our students to succeed in the multicultural, global society in which we live."

Ingram has designed a number of programs to increase awareness and acceptance of differences, and to enhance the public's ability to communicate and relate effectively with populations that differ in age, class, ethnicity, gender, physical or mental ability, race, sexual orientation and religious practices. She has published 16 diversity-focused articles in refereed professional journals and given 22 presentations at national conferences. She also publishes a quarterly diversity newsletter.

Since 1999, she has served as state leader and international specialist for the Pennsylvania 4-H Japanese Exchange Program, a youth exchange program that has hosted more than 30,000 U.S. families and conveyed more than 6,000 4-H youth to Japan since 1972.

Ingram earned a bachelor's degree from Baldwin-Wallace College, master's and educational specialist degrees from Michigan State University and a doctorate from Western Michigan University.

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EDITORS: For more information on the award, contact Catherine Lyons at (814) 865-7521 or by e-mail at cxl4@psu.edu. Contact Patreese Ingram at (814) 863-7439 or by e-mail at pdi1@psu.edu.

Gary Abdullah Writer/editor Phone: 814-863-2708 E-mail: gxa2@psu.edu