Congratulations to Amanda Okamoto, department manager for the Energy and Resources Group (ERG), on being named a Chancellor’s Outstanding Staff Award recipient for 2024.
Awarded by the Chancellor's Staff Advisory Committee, this university-wide honor recognizes staff members who make significant contributions to the UC Berkeley community. Okamoto was celebrated for her pivotal role within ERG and her impact in fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice (DEIBJ) efforts across the university.
Recently, Okamoto spearheaded the review and redaction of over 100 DEI statements for a faculty search, allowing the committee to review and score the statements without bias. This effort resulted in a more rigorous and equitable review process and yielded candidates who met Berkeley's goal to create a culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
As a member of ERG's Diversity Committee, Okamoto actively helps the committee set its priorities and pinpoint areas where staff can champion DEIBJ principles. Her dedication extends beyond the committee as she supports ERG’s student-alumni program and helps devise strategies to attract more underrepresented students to their degree programs.
“Amanda thinks deeply, critically, and practically about the ERG community, and she generates and acts on insights that demonstrate that she is fully committed to making ERG an inclusive community that embodies Berkeley's excellence,” the awards committee wrote.
Visit the Chancellor’s Staff Advisory Committee website for more information and the official ceremony 2024 program.