Jump to navigation
The Pan African Network (PAN) sponsors the Pan African Network Achievement Awards to recognize African American/Black Student Affairs Professionals who have excelled in the areas of citizenship, innovation, leadership, and distinguished service to others. These professionals serve as a source of pride and inspiration to others by giving unselfishly of themselves in order to enhance the student affairs profession.
Nomination Criterion:
Any member of ACPA-College Student Educators International can be nominated for PAN awards.
The Nominator is not required to be a member of ACPA in order to submit a nomination.
Nominations are due Sunday, November 1, 2020.
All awards recipients and nominees will be announced during the annual ACPA Conference March 13-17, 2021. We hope that you help us to further a culture of recognition by submitting a nominating someone today!
Questions regarding this awards process can be directed to PAN Awards Co-Chairs:
Submit nominations using this form.
Interested in serving as a reviewer? Apply here!
Pan African Network Entity Awards Descriptions:
Outstanding Graduate Student Award
The Outstanding Graduate Student Award is designed to recognize the early accomplishments of up-and-coming student affairs professionals. Any professional full-time graduate student or graduate assistant studying at the Master's or Doctoral Degree Level is eligible for this award. The committee will recognize the graduate student who has made significant contributions to the profession through academic research, work, and service.
Outstanding New Professional Award
The Outstanding New Professional Award is designed to recognize the accomplishments of student affairs professionals with no more than three (3) years of experience within the profession. The committee will recognize the professional who have begun to develop their leadership skills and made significant contributions to the profession.
The Erica Holloman Award
The Erica Holloman Award is designed to honor a professional who has made significant personal and professional contributions to enhance the mission and vision of the Pan African Network. This recognition was created in honor of our esteemed colleague Erica Holloman, who valiantly battled Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Prior to her transition, Erica bravely fought her battle while remaining committed to the development and care of the students she served. She was an active member of PAN/ACPA and served our profession in numerous capacities including Residence Director, Program Director of Graduate Student Affairs & Multicultural Programming, and Director of Student Life.
Nominees can be graduate students or professionals. No minimum years of experience are required.
Meet our 2019 Pan African Network Achievement Award Recipients
Outstanding Graduate Student
Dr. Brittany M. Williams recently completed a Ph.D. in College Student Affairs Administration (CSAA) at the University of Georgia and served as a Graduate Assistant under the Office of the Vice President for Instruction (OVPI).
Prior to attending UGA, Brittany served professionally in Career Services and Residence Life capacities. Brittany is a cofounder of #CiteASista, a digital counter-community designed to promote the act of citing and centering Black women’s work; a reimagining, advancing, and nuancing of Black womanhood; and a movement where research, writing, discussion, and beliefs on Black womanhood can be explored. She is also one of five founding members of #SisterPhD, an international digital community designed to promote the retention and support of Black women doctoral students. Her primary research explores career development and professionalism experiences of Black women in higher education; issues facing first-generation college students and opportunities and risks associated with Black professional women engaging in activism. When not focusing on research and service through #CiteASista and #SisterPhD, Brittany is actively engaged in the ACPA community and is a fierce advocate for ACPA as a professional home. A South West Atlanta native and first-generation college graduate, Brittany is the proud product of Atlanta Public Schools and considers being a daughter of the Black American South an integral part of her identity.
Outstanding New Professional
Karyn Dyer is the Assistant Director for the Archer Center for Student Leadership Development at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY.
Her journey to a career in Higher Education began as an undergraduate student leader in residence life and student activities at SUNY College at Old Westbury. Inspired by the impact that professionals of color have in creating spaces for the generations behind them – Karyn walked into the field with a fire for multicultural education and has been intentional and vocal about representing her identities and the identities of marginalized groups. During her graduate career in Higher Postsecondary Education at Syracuse University, Karyn continued to develop interest in the areas of leadership development and access programs. At Syracuse, she served as the Graduate Student Assistant for the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program. With an eagerness and excitement about being a Student Affairs Professional, she has served NASPA as a Graduate Intern and NUFP Alumni representative, ACPA on the Directorate Board of the Coalition of Women’s Identities (CWI) for two years, and the College Student Personnel Association Of New York State (CSPA-NYS) as Programming Chair for the New York Leadership Educators Conference. Karyn has progressively heeded the challenge and created a path that meets the essence of who she is and who she is trying to become. As a true community builder hoping to create safe refuges for professionals of color – she has been a major contributor to the Troy, NY “Power Breakfast” collaborative and is a co-founder of the Troy, NY Curl Circle.
The Erica Holloman Award for Distinguished Service
Dr. Phillip “Flapp” Cockrell is the Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Toledo.
Over the past 15 years, Flapp has worked as an academician and practitioner within the field of student affairs. Just prior to joining UT, Cockrell served as Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs at Jackson State University, Miss. He also has been an adjunct faculty member at both Mississippi University for Women and Jackson State University, as well as a guest lecturer at many other colleges and universities. A native of Columbus, Miss., Cockrell holds a bachelor of science in family studies from Mississippi University for Women, a master of science in educational leadership/student affairs administration from Florida International University, and a doctor of philosophy in urban higher education from Jackson State University. As a past chairperson for the American College Personnel Association–Pan African Network, Cockrell has been actively engaged in advocating on behalf of students and professionals from underrepresented populations, as well as assisting with programming efforts at colleges and universities nationwide. is the Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Toledo. Over the past 15 years, Flapp has worked as an academician and practitioner within the field of student affairs. Just prior to joining UT, Cockrell served as Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs at Jackson State University, Miss. He also has been an adjunct faculty member at both Mississippi University for Women and Jackson State University, as well as a guest lecturer at many other colleges and universities. A native of Columbus, Miss., Cockrell holds a bachelor of science in family studies from Mississippi University for Women, a master of science in educational leadership/student affairs administration from Florida International University, and a doctor of philosophy in urban higher education from Jackson State University. As a past chairperson for the American College Personnel Association–Pan African Network, Cockrell has been actively engaged in advocating on behalf of students and professionals from underrepresented populations, as well as assisting with programming efforts at colleges and universities nationwide.
