The University of Wisconsin-Superior’s Heaven Waasiikwe Fleming, an education major, has been named a recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Women of Color in Education Award. This annual honor given to faculty, staff, students, or community members to recognize their achievements in advancing equity and inclusion for people of color within the Universities of Wisconsin as well as communities across the state.

Fleming balances attending UW-Superior with the work of both learning an endangered language (Ojibwemowin) and teaching it at the same time. She works with advance language speakers, including elders, to advance her language and cultural skills daily. Fleming sometimes expresses concern that she is not learning the language fast enough or that she wants to learn it the right, demonstrating a sense of humility and dedication and commitment to her culture and her community – particularly children she works with. Moreover, Fleming shares her language and culture with fellow students and other members of the UWS community. In 2022, Fleming was awarded the Electa Quinney Institute Leaders of the Good Land Scholarship, which is awarded to Indigenous students in the Universities of Wisconsin based on academic achievement.

This year is the 28th anniversary of the award through which more than 400 women of color have been recognized for their transformational work.

“The Universities of Wisconsin have a longstanding commitment to inclusion at our universities,” said Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman. “We are proud to honor these women of color whose achievements in advocacy and scholarship are transforming our campuses and communities to be more equitable and inclusive.”

Recipients were formally recognized on November 9 in Madison at an awards ceremony and reception hosted by the Universities of Wisconsin. The ceremony and reception were held in conjunction with the Universities of Wisconsin presentation of the Dr. P.B. Poorman Awards for Outstanding Achievement on Behalf of LGBTQ+ People.