Dr. Marcus Martin Remarks

V. Shamim Sisson Ally of the Year
2012 Award Winner – October 20, 2012

Good Evening

I am truly honored to be presented the V. Shamim Sisson ally of the year  award. during the September LGBT committee meeting at U.Va., i  congratulated Ed Strickler on his award. i had no clue that i would also be receiving an award. following the meeting  as ed and i were leaving Booker house he mentioned that he had nominated me for the ally of the year award; I thanked Ed. i did not believe i would be selected but later that day i received an email message from Ed Warwick that i would be receiving the ally of year award at the 14^th annual Serpentine Society fall gala in DC.

Well, was i very surprised!  I was shocked, exceedingly  happy and very blessed  to receive such an honor.

i am very humbled and thankful to Ed Strickler for nominating me for this award.  This honor means a lot to me but could not have happened without the great support that i receive from so many individuals around the U.Va. grounds, the community and from the wonderful alumni and organizations that stand for inclusion, diversity, equity and access.

As a physician who has practiced in high intense emergency rooms  across the country you can imagine the many urgent and emergent situations, the diversity of people and the many outcomes.  Regardless of human differences i have tried to provide sensitive and compassionate care and as chief officer for diversity and equity sensitivity, compassion, and inclusion are values important to me.

I have overcome many challenges and obstacles in my life.  I believe most everyone in this room can say the same.  both president Teresa Sullivan  and John Casteen before her have provided me wonderful support to advance diversity and equity initiatives at U.Va.  This past year we established the LGBT committee as a subcommittee of the diversity council.  I am very proud of the work of the LGBT committee. in the short period of the committee’s  existence, with collective purpose, we have been able to address items important to the LGBT community at U.Va.  We provided input on the most recent faculty  senate survey which we believe will result in important LGBT population data that will enable us to determine  more support needed at uva.

the LGBT committee has held relevant conversations about domestic partner benefits and the direction we should take to continue forward progress. in august we held the first- ever university- wide reception for new and returning LGBT employees, organized by the lgbt committee and hosted by Dean Dorrie Fontaine in pavilion  ix. the turnout for this event exceeded our expectations.

I am  truly blessed and supported in many ways!  I want to recognize my wife Donna who is here tonight and thank her for being my soulmate for nearly 4 decades. i owe a debt of gratitude to the office for diversity and equity staff especially Meghan Faulkner, assistant to the VP and chief officer for diversity and equity for programs and projects. Meghan is here tonight. Meghan, thank you for your support. I would like to thank Gary Nimax for his leadership of the LGBT committee. i thank the LGBT resource center for selecting me as ally of the year named for V. Shamim Sisson, former senior associate  dean of students.

I thank the serpentine society for recognizing  and celebrating the accomplishments of the university’s LGBTQ and allied community on and off grounds. As curry school professor bob covert, one of the past recipients  of the ally of the year award puts it: “we’ve come a long way .. and we’ve got a long way to go.”

There is more work we can do! and as an LGBT ally,  it is my goal to ensure that the University of Virginia is truly a welcoming, inclusive and affirming place for all members of our community.  i am very thankful to receive  this award and for the opportunity to be here  at this wonderful gala tonight.

Thank you and may god bless all!