NOVA Celebrates Black History Month

Today’s topic is Black History Month.

In a message to the VCCS community in honor of Black History Month, Chancellor Doré recognized the role of Virginian Carter G. Woodson, founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, in establishing this month that celebrates and honors the contributions and achievements of Black Americans. Dr. Woodson, whose parents had been enslaved, earned a doctorate from Harvard before joining the faculty of Howard and eventually serving as its dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. (Fittingly, the University of Virginia houses the Carter G. Woodson Institute.)

NOVA is honoring Black History Month across our campuses. This month, student life and student organizations are hosting activities to engage our community in learning more about Black history and culture. On Wednesday, February 21, the Annandale Lyceum Speaker Series will host musician and historian Fruteland Jackson to speak about and celebrate the cultural history of the blues. The event will be offered in a hybrid format to allow everyone to participate, either on campus or virtually. The NOVA Libraries have made the film Just Mercy available to students, faculty and staff who have been participating in the DEI Common Read of Bryan Stevenson’s book. And our DEI Office is partnering with the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement to host a virtual conversation on Thursday, February 29, with Anthony Ray Hinton, whose story was included in Just Mercy. Mr. Hinton was exonerated after decades of imprisonment due to the work of the Equal Justice Initiative; he has written about his experience in The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row.

NOVA is also turning to social media to highlight the contributions of our outstanding Black alumni. Dr. Sonya Anyaka shared the story of her academic journey with our current NOVA Nighthawks at last fall’s annual Student Parent Conference. Dr. Anyaka credits amazing NOVA leader Dr. Beatrice McKeithen with inspiring her passion for healthcare and helping her to find and persist on a path that led to her doctorate. Dr. Anyaka felt called to return to NOVA so that parenting students could see themselves — their challenges, their dreams, their hard work, their triumphs—in her.

These are a few of many the ways that our community is recognizing Black History Month. And as we reflect on what this month means, let us remember the words of Dr. Woodson, who focused on the importance of representation in his writing and advocacy:

“Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.”

In the achievements of Black leaders, historic and current, our students can find their bold futures and plot their own pathways to success. I encourage all of us to see and celebrate the inspiring accomplishments of our own exceptional colleagues who, every day, serve as inspiring role models for our students and ourselves.

Thank you for joining me in celebrating Black History Month.

Anne