PNW psychology professor receives 2024 MLK Dreamer Award

Gisele Casanova, interim department chair and associate professor of Psychology at Purdue University Northwest (PNW), was selected as a recipient of the Purdue University 2024 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dreamer Award. She was one of four individuals within the Purdue system to receive the honor this year.

“It’s a huge honor to be recognized with this award,” says Casanova. “I enjoy helping empower students who are first in their families to attend college, who didn’t think they could earn a degree or didn’t think about pursuing an advanced degree. To receive recognition for work I enjoy was really a nice surprise.”

Casanova was recognized for both her on-campus and off-campus work in empowering students to reach their full potential. During her 30 years of service at PNW, Casanova helped develop and served as the director of the Ethnic Studies program. She works closely with the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement program having mentored more than 80 students throughout the years. She serves as the faculty advisor to the Psychology Club, Theta Kappa Pi Sorority-Delta Chapter and was the former advisor to the Alpha Psi Lambda fraternity and the former central regional director of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She continues to develop programs and create opportunities on campus to bring together diverse groups of students.

I enjoy helping empower students who are first in their families to attend college, who didn’t think they could earn a degree or didn’t think about pursuing an advanced degree.

Gisele Casanova, interim department chair and associate professor of Psychology

Off campus, Casanova is the chapter organizer of the Evergreen Park Chicago Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., a national organization dedicated to public service. She also works with the organization’s youth chapter, Top Teens of America. “We mentor teens,” explains Casanova. “We provide community service opportunities, leadership development, academic support and scholarships with a focus on helping them continue on to college.”

The Dreamer award has been presented annually since 2004 to individuals or organizations within the Purdue system whose contributions embody Dr. King’s vision of service to others and furthers the university’s commitment to diversity.

“This award gives me the motivation to try and reach even more students and impact more lives, if possible,” says Casanova. “Helping students see there’s more they can do and recognize that they can achieve that degree makes it all worthwhile.”