The Office of Diversity and Inclusion presented the seventh annual Phenomenal Women Awards in Beggs Ballroom in the Rhatigan Student Center Thursday.

The ceremony recognizes one outstanding woman each in the categories of faculty, staff and students for their hard work and contributions to the community.

 “We are recognizing women around this campus who are doing such great things and have been for such a long time,” said Danielle Johnson, ODI’s program coordinator. “Women are still considered a minority, so it’s important to showcase who they are.”

This year’s awards ceremony encompassed the life and legacy of the late Maya Angelou with a speech from Sandra Bibb, dean of the College of Health Professions, who spoke on the importance of being a phenomenal woman.

Reflecting on the well-known prose of Angelou’s famous book of poems, “Phenomenal Woman,” Bibb said, “It took me to a place of deep reflection … of who I am and who I am becoming.”

About 50 people from the university and the surrounding community attended the ceremony. See the recipients below.

Award recipients

Faculty: Shirley Lefever-Davis, Dean of the College of Education

This is Lefever-Davis’ first year as dean, and she described winning the Phenomenal Woman Award as a humbling experience.

“We have a lot of programs and initiatives that we are in the process of implementing,” she said. “I see a lot of potential here at WSU, and for right now, I’m trying to do the best job I can.”

Before WSU, Lefever-Davis spent 14 years at the University of Arkansas. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Kansas State University, as well as her doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 1991.

Coming to Wichita State in 2005, she served as department chair for Curriculum and Instruction and was appointed associate dean of the College of Education for undergraduate programs in 2008 and senior associate dean in 2012.

Staff: LaWanda Holt-Fields, Director of the McNair Program

As director of the McNair program, Holt-Fields provides services for those hoping to foster their success in completing a degree. She received her bachelor’s degree from the Elliott School of Communication in 1991 and earned her master’s degree in education in 1999 from the Administration, Counseling, Educational and School Psychology Program at WSU.

“This award is a great honor and a great surprise,” Holt-Fields said. “I’m proud to be recognized, and I’m glad that I have great friends that will come out and support me.”

McNair aims to help students reach the next level of academia. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and advises WSU’s Zeta Beta chapter.

Student: Sein Lengeju, Public administration graduate student

Sein Lengeju is a graduate student earning her master’s degree in public administration. She’s a campus representative with the Clinton Global Initiative, and  is a campus leader for the “Up to Us” campaign.

“I am very humbled, and at the same time, wasn’t expecting this, so it’s a great surprise,” Lengeju said. “There are many other women on campus doing great things that should be recognized.”

She is a member of Maasai, a nomadic tribe indigenous to the Kenyan and Tanzanian community. She represents the Maasai people of East Africa at the United Nation Indigenous Expert meetings. In her free time, Lengeju volunteers at Beech Elementary and Bostic Traditional Magnet School, teaching languages to first grade students.