Professor Martin Joseph Ponce has been awarded the University’s Distinguished Diversity Enhancement Awards. This Award  recognizes individuals or groups who have demonstrated a significant commitment to enhancing diversity at Ohio State and to exceeding expectations in implementing the Diversity Action Plan. The program, now in its 26th year, rewards efforts to enhance diversity on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran or military service status, gender identity, economic status, political belief, marital status or social background. Recipients were honored with a plaque and a $1,200 honorarium at a ceremony. The University Senate Committee on Diversity sponsors the award program in cooperation with the Office of Human Resources.

Previous winners of Distinguished Diversity Award from the English Department are: Chadwick Allen (2011), Debra Moddelmog (2009),  Frederick Aldama (2008), Jacqueline J. Royster (2002),  Brenda Jo Brueggemann (2001) and  John F. Sena (1987)