Pitt-Greensburg education professor honored with 2021 Racial Justice Award

As the child of a Holocaust survivor, University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg Professor Melissa Marks said she has been drawn to advocate for equity.

Marks was honored with the YWCA Westmoreland County’s 2021 Racial Justice Award because of her work in diversity education.

“I know what can happen when people hate,” Marks said. “When you know that your relatives were killed just for who they are, that influences you.”

The Racial Justice Award has been given by the YWCA’s Racial Justice Committee since 1993 to an individual or group who demonstrates commitment to racial equity and inclusiveness. The YWCA seeks to eliminate racial discrimination and empower women.

Diane Krivoniak, co-chair of the YWCA Racial Justice Committee, said the organization “couldn’t have picked a better person.”

Krivoniak said Marks stood out among the other nominees because of the diversity and implicit bias training she has done in Westmoreland County – including its police departments, nonprofits and municipalities.

“Just to speak with (Marks) has just been a pleasure,” Krivoniak said. “We’re in really good hands with her.”

Krivoniak added that Marks continued these training sessions over Zoom to accommodate coronavirus restrictions, which further demonstrated her commitment to racial justice.

As a professor, Marks teaches a variety of classes, including Diversity in Education. This prompted her to publish a book, primarily intended for middle and high school teachers, called “Teaching About Diversity: Activities to Start the Conversation.”

In addition to her family’s connection to the Holocaust, Marks said she has been inspired to advocacy through a professor she had while studying at the Ohio State University who discussed the importance of teaching history comprehensively.

“America is everybody’s America, and you have to teach everybody’s history,” Marks said.

Marks is also inspired by the stories of her students. She said hearing what some of her students have endured unbeknownst to their classmates “drives you to be better.”

“It’s so humbling,” Marks said. “I would’ve pointed to a dozen other people or groups who I would’ve given (the award) to.”

Marks will continue involvement with this committee, the Pittsburgh Holocaust Center and the Collaboratory Against Hate, a research and action center launched by the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University earlier this year.

“I’m going to keep trying to do what I’m doing and expand the light,” Marks said.