The Department of English is thrilled to announce that Professor Simone Drake has received a 2021 Community Engaged Scholar Award. According to the award’s website, the Community Engaged Scholar Award “recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated engaged scholarship that has impacted communities. Community Engaged Scholars have made significant contribution to Ohio State’s culture of engagement, further establishing and strengthening the institution’s commitment to supporting communities.”  

Drake is a professor in the Department of English and is the Hazel C. Youngberg Trustees Distinguished Professor of African American and African Studies. As her biography on the award announcement notes, Drake has “gone beyond disciplinary expectations by personally creating and hosting six nationally viewed Summer 2020 webinars in her Black Matters 101 series…Drake also has been responsible for several community arts programs, as well as panels on health and well-being, urban renewal and community development, and K-12 education held at the Community Extension Center on Mt. Vernon Avenue. Additionally, she has worked with Columbus City Schools, Olentangy Local School District, and the Metro Schools system on ways to broaden inclusive excellence and is currently working with safety security and police diversity training in Franklin and Delaware counties.”  

Congratulations to Professor Drake on this exciting achievement!