Suffolk Reporter

The Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Staff Awards honor individuals who demonstrate leadership qualities that embody the principles of inclusion, diversity, and equity through practical actions. The 2023 recipients were Ketevi Assamagan and Mickey Chiu from the Physics Department.

Kétévi Assamagan, a Distinguished Physicist in the Physics Department, received the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Award for his significant contributions to creating an inclusive work environment at Brookhaven Lab. His career in experimental physics includes work on the Higgs boson and founding the African School of Physics. He has been active in DEI initiatives as a member of the Nuclear & Particle Physics (NPP) Directorate’s DEI Council, a Peer Counselor, and a Leona Woods award committee member.

Assamagan's efforts extend beyond Brookhaven. He is involved in U.S. ATLAS programs, the Community Engagement Frontier, and mentoring African students. He promotes inclusion within the broader physics community by fostering collaborations with African institutions and involving African nations in the ATLAS experiment.

Mickey Chiu, a senior scientist in the Physics Department since 2006, also received the Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Award. Chiu's dedication to diversity and inclusion is evident through his mentorship and engagement with Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCU) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSI). His HBCU Collider Collaboration engages underrepresented students and faculty in nuclear physics research.

Both Assamagan and Chiu have made significant contributions to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within their field.