Adriane Williams, Associate Director for Culture and Community at Daemen, was honored in the sixth annual IDEA Awards—presented by Buffalo Business First—in recognition of her dedication to inclusion, diversity, equity, and awareness. 
The awards ceremony, held on Thursday, February 13 at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens, celebrated 20 honorees across the region for their inclusive contributions to the community and workplace.
“Receiving the IDEA award means so much because I’m being recognized for doing what I love to do,” said Williams. “And being able to do it here at my alma mater is double the honor.”
Williams was nominated by Tiffany Hamilton, VP of Institutional Equity & Belonging at Daemen. “It was a privilege to nominate Adriane for this year’s IDEA Award,” said Hamilton. “With nearly 30 years of dedicated service to the Daemen community, she was the clear choice. Her impactful work with the Liberty Partnership Program, Daemen’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, the women of color support groups Sister 2 Sister and SEEN, and her efforts to combat food insecurity through the Adriane Z. Williams Campus Care Cupboard exemplifies her unwavering commitment to equity and accessibility. Adriane’s dedication extends far beyond campus, making a lasting difference both at Daemen and in the local community.”
Adriane Williams with past Daemen IDEA winners, Lamark Shaw, Yolanda Morris, and Tiffany Hamilton
Several current and former Daemen employees have been honored with IDEA awards in recent years, including Lamark Shaw (2024), Lindsay R. Masters (2023), Yolanda Morris (2022), and Tiffany Hamilton (2021).