COM students Yuandi Tang, Stephannie Joseph and Chike Asuzu were awarded the Erin Victoria Edwards Award for Leadership Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion during COM’s student awards ceremony yesterday.

The awards are made by COM’s DEI Committee to COM seniors and graduate students for demonstrating strong leadership in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in their “major fields of study, professional activities and internships, in the classroom, or in their communities at large.”

Tang is receiving an MS in Media Science: Marketing Communication Research. When he saw a need to help other international students navigate University resources and life in Boston, Tang co-authored the BU International Graduate Student Guide, later featured in BU Today. Tang was active on campus, working at the Newbury Center, writing for the first-generation student magazine, and serving as the professional development chair for COM’s Graduate Student Council. Off campus, he volunteered for Cradles to Crayons, Greater Boston Food Bank and Boston Cares. 

Joseph is receiving a BS in Journalism and a BA in Sociology. A first-generation student, she worked to bring diverse thinking and stories to BUTV10, where she served as general manager. She also interned at GBH public radio, focused on reporting stories in historically marginalized communities. ““I studied sociology alongside journalism to help me develop an informed sensitivity that made my reporting on groups outside my own more effective,” she says.

Asuzu is receiving a BS in Public Relations. Upon arriving on campus, Asuzu became active in a number of organizations such as Umoja: The Black Student Union and Black Business Student Association and with such events as Black Expo, helping Black students engage directly with Black business owners and build skills through workshops. Chike also served as editor-in-chief of Charcoal Magazine, increasing student staff from 60 to 170.

As a symbol of the award, COM presented each recipient with an honor cord, a certificate and a $500 stipend. The award is named in honor of Erin Victoria Edwards, a former COM student who showed outstanding leadership through her DEI initiatives.