“INSIGHT into Diversity” Magazine, a publication that promotes diversity and inclusion, has recognized a Mississippi State University administrator for repeated contributions to diversity.
“INSIGHT” presented Tommy J. Stevenson, the university’s chief diversity officer, with a Diversity Visionary Award for his various campus projects.
Stevenson also acts as the director of the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion and has held this position since 2013. 
The Office of Institutional Diversity works closely with the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center to meet strategic goals for diversity at MSU.
Cedric Gathings, director of HCDC, said Stevenson’s clear idea of what diversity represents is what makes him the perfect recipient of the award.
“Stevenson is a visionary. He has a good idea of what diversity is and an overall arching perspective of what Mississippi State needs to become a university that leads in higher education and diversity,” Gathings said. “In order to do that, Stevenson makes sure to be aware of the needs of all faculty, staff and students.”
Stevenson attended MSU for both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He received a bachelor’s in industrial technology and a master’s in education administration. Stevenson then went on to acquire a doctorate in higher education administration at Bowling Green State University.
Rasheeda Chanel-Boddie Forbes, associate director of HCDC, said diversity plays an important role in a person’s development and should always be encouraged.
“Diversity challenges you to think outside of your traditional mindset. Without diversity you end up falling into the same way of thinking and the same way of being. Diversity is what makes us who we are,” Forbes said.
Forbes said the Diversity Visionary Award represents how much the nation has grown, and she is proud of how far diversity has and will continue to advance.
“Creating an award like this ensures that people understand the importance of diversity and highlighting the achievements made toward diversity,” she said. “For so long people didn’t even see the need for diversity, and now we have an award that honors people for embracing and advancing it. Just 50 years ago diversity was not embraced, but now there’s an award that celebrates it. That just shows huge strides in diversity.”
Stevenson has held several positions throughout his time at MSU. Before his current roles, Stevenson worked as the assistant dean for diversity and student development in MSU’s James Bagley College of Engineering. He also worked as an admissions counselor in the Division of Student Affairs. 
Stevenson’s contributions include partnering with local communities to stress MSU’s vision of diversity, hosting a campus diversity council, executing university’s strategic diversity plan and recruiting student body members that reflect diverse backgrounds.
Stevenson said he is honored to receive the award and proud of the work he has done thus far.
“I am most proud of all the efforts where there were true partnerships among individuals who wanted to make the university better for all people,” Stevenson said. “It is a great honor to receive the award on behalf of the university. This award recognizes the many efforts that the university has supported. It is critical that we ensure that everyone has an opportunity to succeed. When that goal is achieved, we are all better for it.”