[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 60 (Thursday, April 23, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E959]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATORY TRIBUTE TO DR. LARICE Y. COWAN ON THE ACCESSION OF HER 
RETIREMENT AS ASSISTANT CHANCELLOR AND DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF EQUAL 
 OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHAMPAIGN URBANA 
                                CAMPUS.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 2009

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Dr. 
Larice Cowan, a fellow alumnus from the University of Arkansas at Pine 
Bluff who has distinguished herself as an outstanding academician and 
practitioner in the field of human relations and affirmative action. 
Dr. Cowan graduated from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff with 
a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology in 1971; she subsequently earned 
a Masters Degree in Social Work at the University of Arkansas at Little 
Rock, and a PhD in Educational Policy Studies from the University of 
Illinois at Champaign.
  Dr. Cowan began her career in civil rights and human rights as 
Director of the Community Relations Department for the City of 
Champaign, where she pioneered cooperative relationships between 
Champaign Police Department and the community. She partnered with a 
Lieutenant in the police department and two university professors to 
produce a research document titled ``Police-community Relations: A 
Process, not a Product'', this research actively is credited with 
helping to change police and citizens interaction within the City of 
Champaign.
  After coming to the University of Illinois, Dr. Cowan devoted her 
life to a career in affirmative action and diversity. As Assistant Vice 
Chancellor for Administration and Director of Affirmative Action for 
staff, she led the campus in establishing policies and procedures to 
advance campus affirmative action for faculty and staff. As Assistant 
Chancellor and Director of OEOA, she introduced the first major campus-
wide diversity program which was attended by Deans, Directors, and 
department heads and instrumental in the development of the first video 
produced on sexual harassment prevention and the presentation of a 
series of campus programs on sexual harassment prevention. Currently, 
Dr. Cowan oversees the university's affirmative action policies and 
procedures, including companies such as The Americans with Disabilities 
Act: the investigation of internal and external complaints of alleged 
discrimination filed with federal and state civil rights agencies, the 
development and implementation of educational programs on diversity 
inclusion, sexual harassment prevention, disability issues and related 
topics for faculty and staff to improve campus climate and to 
facilitate campus and community outreach and interaction. Dr. Cowan is 
active in her local community where she serves on several boards 
dealing with education, substance abuse, women's issues and civil 
rights. She has received numerous awards and citations for her 
outstanding work. I am pleased to commend and congratulate Dr. Cowan on 
an outstanding career and wish her well in all of her future endeavors.

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