The recipient of the Purdue University Black Graduate Student Association’s 2023 Distinguished Service Award is the director of the Purdue Center for Animal Welfare Science (CAWS) and professor of animal behavior and well-being, Dr. Candace Croney, who holds a joint faculty appointment in the colleges of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture. Dr. Croney was presented with the award at the end of the spring semester during the Black Graduate Student Association’s (BGSA) annual awards and recognition banquet April 29. The event celebrates the accomplishments of the BGSA membership, distinguished community organizations, and members of the Purdue community.
The Distinguished Service Award honors individuals who have made significant and sustained contributions to Black Higher Education within the state of Indiana. In addition to her faculty role and responsibilities as CAWS director, Dr. Croney also is the Purdue associate vice provost for diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
The Purdue BGSA is a non-profit student organization committed to the unification of its members through the facilitation of programs that strengthen the community of Black graduate and professional students across all disciplines. It serves to enrich the graduate school experience of students interested in Black culture. The BGSA fulfills this goal through programming that offers opportunities for professional and scholarly development, community involvement, and social exchange.
Congratulations Dr. Croney!