2000 MLK Leadership Award Recipients
Professor
Rafael Bras '72
Awarded for his inspirational and steadfast commitment to underrepresented
students at MIT. During the past twenty-four years, his achievements
at the Institute — as student, faculty member, department
head, program director, and advisor — have motivated and encouraged
countless young people from all backgrounds. While ceaselessly contributing
to the fields of hydrology and hydroclima-tology, he has never lost
sight of those who wish to follow in his footsteps. Whether serving
as director of the MITES Program or successfully recruiting Hispanic
faculty to MIT, he embodied Dr. King’s vision by generously
and selflessly working to provide better opportunities for those
who have been denied.
Ms.
Ticora Jones '00
Ms. Jones is an exceptionally resourceful and natural leader who
has demonstrated considerable strength as a contributor to the MIT
community. Her ability to motivate others enabled a group of talented
individuals to develop and successfully complete a project with
multiple interrelated tasks. The efforts of her classmates resulted
not only in an outstanding product but also in a deeper appreciation
for what can be accomplished by a skillfully directed team. A commitment
to achieving the best is evident in her work as Vice-Chair of the
Undergraduate Association Finance Board and as co-founder of the
Black Women’s Alliance at MIT. As the Office of Minority Education
Tutor of the Year, she distinguished herself as one who is dedicated
to the highest academic standards. The members of the MLK Committee
believe that Ms. Jones embraced the essence of what Martin Luther
King, Jr. demanded of himself and others, and her endeavors are
a tribute to his dream.
Dr. Woodrow
Whitlow '74
Woody's
actions have remained consistent with Dr. King's model for excellence
in ones profession and for personal involvement and commitment to
enhance the brotherhood of human kind. He is currently Director
of the Aeronautics Directorate, the NASA Glenn Research Center,
Cleveland, OH. In addition to being a strong advocate for aeronautics
in the interest of the nation's ability to continue to produce wealth,
Woody has developed unique research programs requiring a partnership
between NASA Centers, US industry, and universities that involve
Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Such a program is
the NASA Advanced Concepts for Aeronautics Program that nurtured
the development of the blended-wing body (BWB) concept for civil
aviation.
While executing technical and managerial responsibilities and duties
at NASA, Woody has directed the Doctoral theses of three graduate
students and the Masters theses of five graduate students at majority
academic institutions. He has also taught physics and mathematics
undergraduate courses at Hampton University.
Dr. Whitlow has demonstrated his very firm belief in the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through his many actions and contributions to technology and human kind. Dr. Whitlow has earned The Martin Luther Kind, Jr. Leadership Award, 1999-2000.
