Birch Aquarium’s Renner Wins Inclusive Excellence Award

La Jolla, CA (April 18, 2025)—At Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, a culture of inclusion is part of everyday life. That commitment is exemplified by the recognition of Dr. Nancy Renner, who has been named the 2024 Staff Inclusive Excellence Award recipient. The Annual Inclusive Excellence Awards honors staff, faculty, students, departments and organizational units or groups who have made outstanding contributions in the areas of inclusion, equity, diversity and the UC San Diego Principles of Community in 2024. 

"Nan’s dedication to equity, inclusivity and environmental justice extends far beyond her work for the University,” said Dr. Cheryl Peach, Director of Scripps Educational Alliances at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. “Her personal and professional networks, and most importantly the trust she engenders through her passion and dedication, are her ‘super powers’ and we are fortunate that she is putting them to work for all of us at the University." 

Renner is Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and co-leads Birch Aquarium’s Hub for Scripps Science. Established by Executive Director Harry Helling in 2022, the Hub is co-led by Renner and Peach. The Hub’s goal is to further Birch Aquarium’s mission to connect understanding to protecting our ocean planet by connecting Scripps Oceanography science and scientists with K16 schools as well as higher education and the community through innovative, impactful programming and partnerships. The Hub’s work centers equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI) and cultural relevance in science education, career pathways and climate and environmental justice. 

Renner is also a member of the UC San Diego Center for Research on Educational Equity, Assessment, and Teaching Excellence STEM Success Initiative team (CREATE), the co-lead of the NSF-funded SoCal Heat Hub and spearheads collaborations with indigenous communities, including the recent Indigenous Ocean Day, a Birch Aquarium event that drew wide-ranging representation from San Diego’s tribal communities and Scripps researchers. Qualities of an Inclusive Excellence Award Recipient include someone who honors cultural differences, promotes equity at UC San Diego, makes UC San Diego a better place to work or learn and demonstrates exemplary support of the UC San Diego Principles of Community.