Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Award
Sarah Pennington
Sarah Pennington, associate professor in the Department of Education, is the recipient of the Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Award. The award honors a faculty member who has established a record of working to improve issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion at MSU. It is sponsored by the MSU Office of Diversity and Inclusion and comes with a $2,000 honorarium.
Pennington is known for her commitment to fostering an inclusive campus environment through advocacy, education and service. Among other efforts, Pennington is a co-founder and co-leader of MSU’s Dyslexia and Innovation Symposium, which celebrates the strengths of the dyslexic mind. Since its inception, the symposium has reached nearly 2,500 participants from across campus, Montana, the U.S. and Canada.
Pennington has also worked with a colleague to implement a dyslexia simulation in all sections of the K-8 English language arts methods course for undergraduate education majors. She has noted that future teachers gain empathy and inclusive teaching techniques from this immersive experience, which helps them comprehend the difficulties faced by people with dyslexia. The simulation’s reach extends beyond campus, as it has also been presented to educators across the state.
Pennington also leads workshops that foster empathy and allyship for LGBTQ+ people as a Safe Zone trainer, and she contributed to MSU’s “Guide to Inclusive Teaching,” a resource for faculty and staff striving to create equitable and welcoming learning environments.