Lilia Cortina

University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor; professor of psychology, and of women’s and gender studies, LSA; and professor of management and organizations, Stephen M. Ross School of Business

Lilia Cortina is a nationally recognized and award-winning expert on sexual harassment and hostile work environments, whose scholarship has transformed our understanding of workplace equity. Through pioneering research, influential legal testimony as an expert witness, and the creation of practical tools and strategies, Cortina has empowered institutions and individuals to build more just and inclusive work cultures. She joined U-M’s faculty in 2000. In 2021, she was named a University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor of Psychology and Women’s and Gender Studies, and currently, she chairs the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies. In 2018, Cortina co-authored a landmark National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine study focused on sexual harassment of women in STEM fields, which has been downloaded nearly 30,000 times and cited in five proposed pieces of legislation and hearings. Her research has been featured in prominent media outlets such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, TIME Magazine, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. On campus, Cortina has led initiatives as associate director of ADVANCE, working to foster respect and inclusion in academic spaces.

Stephen Ward

Arthur F Thurnau Professor & Associate Professor of Afroamerican and African Studies, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, Associate Professor & Director Academic Program, Semester in Detroit Program, Residential College

Stephen Ward is a distinguished scholar, teacher and community leader whose commitment to public service has shaped U-M and Detroit for more than two decades. An authority on Black radical history, urban transformation and social justice, Ward has devoted his career to bridging university and community, cultivating spaces of inclusion, understanding and engaged learning. Since joining U-M in 2002, he has served as faculty director of Semester in Detroit, associate director of the Residential College, and associate chair of Afroamerican and African Studies. Through Semester in Detroit, Ward has mentored countless students as they partner with Detroit organizations, demonstrating that academic and community rigor are inseparable. His scholarship and activism have elevated the legacy of James and Grace Lee Boggs, including leadership in digitizing the Boggs Center archives. Ward’s public service is further evident in his roles with key university initiatives, as well as in everyday advocacy for students, staff and colleagues from all backgrounds. Colleagues describe him as a model of empathy, clarity and principled leadership in even the most challenging circumstances.

The 2025 awardee information provided above is from the October 27th, 2025, University Record article, Thirty-five to receive faculty awards at annual celebration.