Dozens of faculty, staff and students showed up for the California State University, Northridge Black Alumni Association’s inaugural awards and scholarship fundraiser on, Sept. 27, at the Orange Grove Bistro.
The event, “Celebrating a Legacy of Success: Linkages Beyond the Classroom,” recognized the contributions of CSUN alumni, faculty and staff of African descent.
“We must not forget our past,” said the Rev. James D. Key ’88 (Speech Communications), the keynote speaker and author of Tough and Go: From the Streets of South Central Los Angeles to the War in Iraq. Key, a major in U.S. Army in charge of the North East Chaplain Recruiting Team and a minister with a master’s from Princeton Theological Seminary and doctorate degree in ministry from Howard University School of Divinity, said CSUN helped to lay the foundation for his success.
“One of the toughest classes I ever had was in the Pan African Studies Department,” he said. He said the PAS Department faculty were tough but compassionate. Those honored were:
- William Watkins ’74 (Urban Studies), CSUN vice president of student affairs and dean of students – Shining Star Award
- Fluke Fluker ’88 (Kinesiology), co-founder of The Village Nation – Community Service Award
- Charles Humphrey ’86 (Mechanical Engineering) and Andrea Humphrey ’88 (Economics), pastors of H.O.P.E.’s House of Christian Ministries – Community Service Award
- CSUN Faculty, Founders of CSUN’s Department of Pan African Studies (now known as Africana Studies). Those faculty who attended the event included emeritus professor James Dennis, emeritus professor Barbara Rhodes and Adewole Umoja ’68 (History).
Sen. Holly Mitchell, chair of California’s Legislative Black Caucus, and Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch Englander were among the dignitaries to congratulate the honorees. CSUN President Dianne F. Harrison sent a letter of congratulations and helped to sponsor the event along with the CSUN Foundation. John Harris ’72 (Political Science), CSUN’s 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award winner also made a significant contribution to the organization’s scholarship fund.
“Since our chartering on Sept. 27, 2011, we have dedicated ourselves to connecting all those interested in promoting and supporting the needs of alumni, faculty, staff and students of African descent at CSUN,” said Shanté Morgan-Durisseau ’90 (Journalism/Afro-American Studies), president of the BAA. “We were able to reconnect alumni and faculty from across the decades.”
For more information about the BAA, visit, csunalumni.com/baa.