01-05-2025
SUNY Oneonta professor wins Horizon Award
SUNY Oneonta Assistant Professor of English Sheena Mason is one of 10 recipients of the inaugural Horizon Award for Faculty Research and Scholarship, announced this week by State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr.
The award honors early-career tenured and tenure track faculty across SUNY's 64 colleges and universities whose scholarly or creative activities have achieved significant recognition and hold strong promise for field-defining impact in the future, according to a news release from SUNY Oneonta.
Mason is a scholar whose work in race theory and antiracism has earned international recognition for its approach and real-world impact, the release stated. "Her research transcends disciplinary boundaries, shaping critical conversations in Africana Studies, philosophy, literature and the social sciences," the release stated. She is the author of two books, 'The Raceless Antiracist' (2024) and 'Theory of Racelessness' (2022), "which challenge conventional paradigms of racial identity and are contributing to a global reevaluation of race and racism," according to the release.
In the classroom, Mason "integrates her research into her teaching, offering students a cutting-edge understanding of race theory and social justice," the release stated. Her approach to assignments, such as student-led discussions and creative projects, "encourages students to engage deeply with the material," according to the release. On campus, she has earned Scholar of the Year, a student-nominated Pillar Award, and the Esther Hubbard Whitaker Prize, which recognizes dedication to student learning, passion for their chosen field and a strong commitment to community service.
Candidates' portfolios were reviewed by Distinguished Academy faculty who made recommendations to the SUNY Provost, the release stated. As many as 10 awards will be conferred each year.
