PhD student Mehrdad Mohammadi has been selected as a recipient of the Larine Y. Cowan Make a Difference Award, a campus honor that recognizes individuals who have made meaningful contributions to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming community at the University of Illinois.
The Larine Y. Cowan Make a Difference Awards celebrate faculty, academic professionals, and civic service employees who demonstrate exceptional dedication to advancing diversity and inclusion through their research, programs, courses, hiring practices, and community engagement. Named in honor of Larine Y. Cowan, former Assistant Chancellor and Director of what is now the Office for Access & Equity, the awards reflect her nearly 20-year legacy of leadership in human rights advocacy, social justice, and diversity at Illinois.
Mehrdad was honored during the Annual Celebration of Diversity, hosted by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Access, Civil Rights & Community. The annual event brings together members of the university and local community to highlight campus diversity efforts and recognize individuals and colleges whose work contributes to a more accessible and equitable university environment.
The celebration took place on Friday, November 14, 2025, at the I Hotel and Conference Center.