In Memoriam

In Memoriam: Cameisha Clark

Dr. Clark passed away on May 5 following complications from a being shot during an incident on the Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology's campus in California three days earlier. She was a dean at the college and a three-time graduate of Clark Atlanta University.

In Memoriam: Valentin-Yves Mudimbe, 1941-2025

At Duke University, Dr. Mudimbe served as the Neman Ivey White Professor of Literature. He was a poet, author, and interdisciplinary scholar of African identities and histories.

In Memoriam: Cheryl Green

Dr. Green had recently retired from the presidency of Governors State University on March 1. She was the university's sixth president and first Black leader. Her background in higher education included over three decades of experience as an administrator professor of psychology.

In Memoriam: Frank Brown, 1935-2025

An advocate for racial justice in education, Dr. Brown was the first Black dean of the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he helped to establish the university's first Black cultural center.

In Memoriam: John Harding Lucas, Sr., 1920-2025

A dedicated educator in North Carolina for six decades, Dr. Lucas was a key leader in uniting the White North Carolina Education Association and the Black North Carolina Teachers' Association in 1970. Later in life, he served as interim president of Shaw University in Raleigh.

In Memoriam: Roena I. Wilford

“Ms. Wilford’s impact on Southern University, the Baton Rouge community, and beyond is immeasurable,” said John K. Pierre, Southern University chancellor. “Her leadership, service, and dedication to uplifting others have left an indelible mark on our institution and all who had the privilege of knowing her.”

In Memoriam: Gwendolyn Andrews, 1932-2025

Andrews spent four decades as a pioneer in the nursing profession, including as a nurse educator. In 1953, Andrews was hired as the first instructor of nursing at what is now Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina.

In Memoriam: Margaret Ambrose

Ambrose was a faculty member and administrator at Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for over three decades. She held several leadership roles throughout her tenure, including one year of service as interim chancellor.

In Memoriam: Mary Belle McDonald, 1938-2025

A scholar of nutrition and dietetics, McDonald served as a longtime faculty member with the University of Missouri. She was the institution's third-ever African American professor.

In Memoriam: Joycelyn Nicole Wilson, 1975-2025

A senior instructor of mathematics at Spelman College in Atlanta, Professor Wilson was found deceased on February 9 at Lake Oconee after an empty boat was found circling the lake.

In Memoriam: Matthew Holden Jr., 1931-2025

A well-known leader in the field of political science, Dr. Holden taught at several universities throughout the country, including over two decades on the faculty at the University of Virginia.

In Memoriam: L. Clifford Davis, 1924-2025

In 1946, Davis applied to the University of Arkansas School of Law, making him the school's first-ever Black applicant. Although he was denied, his application inspired the law school's leadership to develop a plan to integrate the university. The institution enrolled its first Black student two years later.

In Memoriam: Alvin F. Poussaint, 1934-2025

Dr. Poussiant was a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School for 50 years. He was a dedicated advocate of mental health who worked to advance Black representation in medicine and reduce racial disparities in healthcare.

In Memoriam: Francis Ammon McMillan Parks, 1937-2025

Parks served as an instructor and director with Hendricks Chapel at Syracuse University for over two decades.

In Memoriam: JMal Stewart, 1974-2025

With over two decades of experience in human resources, Stewart spent the past 11 years as a senior talent acquisition manager for the advancement division at Virginia Tech.

In Memoriam: Lonnie R. Snowden, 1947-2025

Dr. Snowden served as a professor of social welfare and public health policy at the University of California, Berkeley from 1978 until his passing in January. He was dedicated to advancing research on mental health services and eliminating racial disparities in healthcare.

In Memoriam: Jerry Washington Ward, Jr., 1943-2025

Dr. Ward taught English at Tougaloo College in Mississippi for over three decades. He then served a a distinguished professor at Dillard University in New Orleans for 10 years before his retirement in 2012.

In Memoriam: Kiah Duggins

Kiah Duggins was one of the 67 victims who died in the recent plane crash in Washington, D.C. She was scheduled to join the faculty at the Howard University School of Law as an associate professor for the fall 2025 semester.

In Memoriam: Samuel J. Dunn, 1922-2025

From 1957 to 1992, Dr. Dunn led what is now the department of natural resources and environmental design at North Carolina A&T State University. He was instrumental in expanding his department's research output and academic programming.

In Memoriam: James O’Leary Maxwell, 1938-2025

Dr. Maxwell served as a faculty member and administrator with historically Black Southwestern Christian College for almost 50 years, including four decades of service as vice president of institutional expansion.
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