We encourage interested COM students to nominate themselves, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Faculty, Staff and Students are also welcome to nominate a graduating student who demonstrates outstanding work in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

The Erin Victoria Edwards Award for Leadership Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will be given to College of Communication seniors and graduate students who are outstanding leaders in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at Boston University, the College of Communication, and in the community. Erin Victoria Edwards is a former student of Boston University College of Communication, who showed outstanding leadership through her DEI initiatives.

Award winners will have demonstrated strong leadership work in the field of DEI as related to their major fields of study, professional activities and internships, in the classroom, or in their communities at large. This is a prestigious student honor conferred by the DEI Committee of the College of Communication.

Each winner will receive a $500 monetary award, an honor cord to wear with their commencement regalia and an award certificate.

  1. Intend to graduate from Boston University College of Communication in January 2026, May 2026, or August 2026.
  2. Undergraduate students must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 or higher and Graduate students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher. A member of the DEI committee will verify your GPA upon nomination.
  3. Complete the web-based application form (see below).
  4. Submit a resume and portfolio that outlines relevant DEI involvement.
  5. Submit a personal essay outlining your commitment to and involvement in DEI work.
  6. Ask a mentor familiar with your DEI work to submit a letter of recommendation to the COM DEI committee at comdei@bu.edu no later than the application deadline specified below.
  1. Nominate a student who intends to graduate from Boston University College of Communication in January 2026, May 2026, or September 2026.
  2. Undergraduate nominees must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 or higher and Graduate nominees must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher; a member of the DEI committee will verify the student’s GPA upon nomination.
  3. Complete the web-based application form (see below).
  4. Submit a written statement or letter of recommendation outlining why you are nominating the student, and how they have demonstrated outstanding involvement in DEI work.
  5. If you nominate a student, please leave ample time for the student to respond to the DEI Committee’s request to submit a resume and portfolio that outlines relevant DEI involvement, as well as a personal statement about their involvement with DEI work to comdei@bu.edu. They will need to submit their materials no later than the application deadline.

Submissions will be evaluated by a subcommittee of The COM Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, comprised of at least one student peer, as well as faculty and staff members from the COM DEI Committee. Students who wish to nominate themselves for the award, or who were nominated by someone else, will not be eligible to judge the award recipients. The subcommittee will select up to one winner from each department at the Undergraduate level, and one overall winner at the Graduate level, for a total of four possible winners each academic year.

Undergraduate students pursuing a COM double major will need to indicate the department through which they choose to apply (only one department per applicant is allowed). If nominated by a faculty member, staff member or another student, please specify the department  of nomination for COM double majors.

DEADLINE: All materials must be received by the Committee at comdei@bu.edu on Monday, March 16th, 2026 at 11:59 pm.

  • All application materials must be uploaded as part of the web-form or emailed to the COM DEI Committee at comdei@bu.edu no later than the final deadline on Monday, March 16th, 2026 at 11:59 pm.
  • If you nominate a student, please leave ample time for the student to respond to the DEI Committee’s request to submit a resume and portfolio that outlines relevant DEI involvement, as well as a personal statement about their involvement with DEI work to comdei@bu.edu. They will need to submit their materials no later than the application deadline.