Tony Michael, director of family and community development for WVU Extension, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Neil S. Bucklew Social Justice Award.
The prestigious award, named after the University’s 21st president, is presented annually to a university faculty or staff member who demonstrates outstanding leadership, courage, and support in the areas of social justice, belonging, and community engagement at West Virginia University and beyond.
Michael’s career has been defined by his unwavering dedication to promoting cultural competency, workers’ rights and poverty awareness. Since joining WVU Extension in 2002 as a labor and employment law specialist, he has worked tirelessly to create more inclusive and equitable communities.
One of his most impactful initiatives he helped to lead is the Cultural Competency for Communities program. Since 2014, the program has trained over 2,000 city employees in Huntington, leading to transformative policy changes. He strengthened workplace protections and achieved a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index, up from just 43 in 2014.
“Tony is a professional, committed to serving the land-grant mission and creating healthy environments for championing change,” Jennifer O. Williams, WVU Extension associate dean, said. “He is dedicated and innovative. He is making a positive impact and improving the livelihoods of West Virginians through awareness, changing behaviors and attitudes, increasing knowledge and bringing about change.”
Gina Taylor, faculty success coach at WVU Extension, nominated Michael for the award. He embarked on a journey of intellectual growth that began with earning a bachelor’s degree in English from Bethany College in 1997. Fueled by a passion for language, Michael continued his academic pursuit by attaining a master’s degree in English from WVU in 1999.
Michael’s influence extends far beyond Huntington. He has developed social justice training partnerships with organizations across West Virginia and Maryland, including Western Maryland AHEC, WV Governor’s Highway Safety Program, Three Rivers United Way, National labor unions and advocacy groups.
His efforts have been recognized with multiple national awards, including the First Place Northeast Region Award from the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals and the Epsilon Sigma Phi Diversity Team Award for innovative multicultural programming.
Jorge H. Atiles, dean of WVU Extension and Engagement, supported Michael for the Bucklew Award, pointing to his contribution to an engaging environment.
“His efforts have produced lasting, meaningful outcomes, including the historic appointment of the city’s first Black police chief, the first female and openly gay fire chief and several key policy changes,” Atiles said.
Additionally, his work has secured over $75,000 in external funding, including a $40,000 NTAE Expansion Grant to scale his cultural competency program for national distribution.
Beyond cultural competency, he is a nationally recognized expert in labor education. As vice president of the United Association for Labor Education, he has organized six international conferences on workers’ rights and workplace justice. He has also trained workers and employers across the United States and Canada on fair labor practices and discrimination-free workplaces.
Michael also directs poverty simulations; immersive experiences that help policymakers and professionals understand the systemic barriers faced by low-income families. These simulations have been instrumental in shaping more empathetic and effective policies.
As the recipient of the 2025 Neil S. Bucklew Social Justice Award, he will receive $2,500, which may be used for professional development or directed to one of several worthy WVU Foundation accounts.