Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Faculty Award

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Faculty Award recognizes outstanding faculty who exemplify the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s scholarship, life, and justice work and who promote the principles and ethos of Dr. King’s extensive global contributions in their research, teaching, leadership, and/or community-building efforts. These awards are of particular significance as they are driven by students. Student participation includes, but is not limited to, award development, nomination, selection, and recognition of faculty honorees who have made a substantial impact within the classroom, in advancing student research and co-curricular projects, and in their work with students across the greater NYU community.


2023–2024 Award Recipients

Headshot - Gay Abel-Bey

Gay Abel-Bey, Tisch School of the Arts

Gay Abel-Bey is UGFTV associate professor at Tisch School of the Arts. Professor Abel-Bey began teaching as a graduate student at UCLA. As a teaching assistant, she co-taught courses like Remote Television Workshop—with Robert Trachinger, former VP at KABC, Sports Broadcasting—and Intermediate Television Production with Professor Arthur Friedman. Professor Abel-Bey programmed Filmex's student film showcase and co-hosted the National Film School of London retrospective.

Headshot - Diane Hughes

Diane Hughes, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development

Diane Hughes is professor of Applied Psychology and director of the Learning Race Research Lab at NYU. Her research analyzes the roles of race and ethnicity in the lives of adolescents and families. Hughes’ pioneering work on ethnic-racial socialization has foundationally influenced scholars for two decades.

Headshot - Cheryline Pezzullo

Cheryline Pezzullo, College of Dentistry

Cheryline Pezzullo is clinical assistant professor and director of Community-based Programs at the College of Dentistry. She is heavily involved in engaging NYU students through first-hand community outreach programming and rotations to provide access to care and shine a light on the oral health disparities that exist in NYC and worldwide.

Headshot - Erica Saldívar García

Erica Saldívar García, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development

Erica Saldívar García is clinical assistant professor of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Bilingual, and World Language Education, and she is the director of the Multilingual Multicultural Studies program in the Department of Teaching and Learning.


2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Faculty Award recipients will receive a research stipend, and will be announced and celebrated during NYU MLK Week 2024 (February 5–9).