Al Fuertes Receives Spirit of King Award

Al Fuertes Receives Spirit of King Award
Al Fuertes with students in Cambodia

Congratulations to New Century College Associate Professor Al Fuertes, recipient of the 2015 Spirit of King Award in the faculty category. Fuertes received this award for his exemplary contributions and dedication to the development of a more culturally competent and inclusive campus community.

The Spirit of King Awards are presented by Mason’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME) as part of the campus-wide celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The 2015 Spirit of King awards were presented at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Evening of Reflection event on January 27, 2015.

The faculty award is presented to a teaching faculty member who has made an exceptional contribution to the development of an inclusive learning environment through his or her teaching, research, or work that involves advocacy for equality and social justice.

Fuertes’ work exemplifies these areas both through his teaching and also his work as a field practitioner specializing in community-based trauma healing. In addition to teaching such subjects as Human Trafficking and Conflict Resolution, he has led students on courses to study resiliency and peace building in Cambodia and the Philippines.