Dr. Shamaine Bertrand has been named the 2021 David A. Strand Diversity Achievement Award winner.
Established by Illinois State President Emeritus David Strand in 1994, the award recognizes a current Illinois State University faculty or staff member who is instrumental in extraordinary curricular or program activities that assist the University in responding to its commitment to diversity.
Bertrand’s commitment to diversity shines through her teaching, scholarship, and community outreach. In her role as a faculty member and teacher educator, Bertrand plans and implements professional development sessions that focus on social and racial justice and culturally responsive teaching for colleges, universities, and K-12 public schools across the country.
She serves as the co-chair of the National Association of Professional Development Schools Antiracism Committee. She has served as program chair and co-chair for Illinois State University’s Culturally Responsive Campus Climate Conference (CRCC) and is a member of the ISU Multicultural Center Advisory Council.
In the College of Education, where she is an assistant professor of elementary education, Bertrand co-founded the Equity and Diversity Cohort after realizing many of her students have little experience working with young people from racially or socioeconomically diverse backgrounds. In her efforts, she redesigned courses that focus on preparing students for the realities of teaching in today’s diverse classrooms, specifically how to effectively teach and support Black and Brown elementary school children. Bertrand also serves as the chair of the college’s Diversity Education Committee and is the School of Teaching and Learning representative on the college’s GROWTH Change Team.
Bertrand volunteers at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church’s food pantry, and is an active member of the Bloomington-Normal Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Bertrand received her bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University, a master’s degree from the University of Mary Washington, and a Ph.D. from George Mason University.
