SMTD is pleased to announce that Robin Wilson, professor of dance, has been named the 2024 faculty recipient of the John Matlock Cornerstone Award.
The award is named in honor of the late Dr. John Matlock, who served as U-M’s associate vice provost in the Office of the Provost and as executive vice president for academic affairs while directing the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives (OAMI) from 1989–2013. Matlock engaged in many activities involving diversity research, multicultural programming, pre-college initiatives, student leadership training, academic success initiatives, and enrichment activities. His work in engaging diverse groups of faculty, staff, and students to advance campus diversity initiatives is unparalleled.
A founding member of New York’s Urban Bush Women with an MFA in Choreography from Temple University, Robin Wilson’s work explores the influences of the African Diaspora in historical and contemporary dance/culture, public scholarship, and social justice through community engagement. Upon being notified of the award, Wilson commented, “I am greatly humbled to have been nominated for this award and deeply touched that someone decided that my work should be honored in this fashion.”
Robin Wilson
The award will be presented at the 31st annual Black Celebratory event, scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, at the Power Center for the Performing Arts. The Black Celebratory honors the achievements of African American students graduating from the University of Michigan. Founded in 1999, the Cornerstone Award is given annually to a U-M faculty and staff member. The award recognizes the unique contributions and assistance these individuals have shown to enhance African American students’ academic and social progress at Michigan.
“Professor Wilson has a decades-long record of dedication and commitment to the Department of Dance, the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, the university, and the field at large,” stated Amy Chavasse, professor of dance. “This is robustly demonstrated through her teaching innovations, creative research, professional accomplishments, community activism and engagement, and service to SMTD and the university. Hundreds of students have benefitted from her dedication, attention, and encouragement from widely diverse experiences and affinities.”