Dean of the College of Liberal Arts Lee M. Cohen (from left) with alumnae Harriett Hilliard and Erica Burley; Kirsten Dellinger, associate dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion; and Val Ross, program manager for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Building connections at the second College Black Alumni Reunion event
BY STAFF REPORT
Dean Lee M. Cohen welcomed the 2024 Black Alumni Reunion attendees from the University of Mississippi College of Liberal Arts at a reception in Ventress Hall with faculty and staff.
“This was the second time the College of Liberal Arts has hosted an event for the Black Alumni Reunion and we are excited to keep building on this,” said Kirsten Dellinger, associate dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion. “We hope people will come back to visit former classmates, faculty and administrators in the College year after year and that our connection will continue to grow.”
More than 360 alumni returned for the four-day affair. Held every three years in the past, the reunion was moved up a year because of alumni interest.
Alumnus Doyal Siddell (right) and Derrick Jones, director of FASTrack, at the second College of Liberal Arts event for the Black Alumni Reunion.
“Participation in BAR is a wonderful opportunity to connect with our African American graduates. We have received lovely notes from attendees, and we look forward to more visits in Ventress,” Dellinger said.
The event was developed by the College out of a desire to create an academic element for BAR that acknowledges and celebrates the scholarship of Black alumni explained Val Ross, program manager for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“After a successful first event, BAR scheduled an event in which several academic units set up space to recognize and celebrate the return of their Black alumn,” Ross said. “Multiple academic units coordinated additional events to celebrate their returning scholars with opportunities for alumni to visit their academic school or college and learn about their ongoing initiatives and ways that they could become involved in the success of these initiatives.
“Black alumni certainly enjoyed the social aspect of a college experience. However, the successful completion of a college degree, the opportunities afforded to one because of this degree, and the meaning of completion to a degree to families of BAR alums is something that returning BAR individuals continue to highlight in conversations during their return visit to their alma mater as one of their most meaningful life achievements.”
For 2024 reunion, attendees were invited to a variety of events over four days.
Dellinger said that conversations are underway with the Dean and the UM Foundation about the development of a CLA Black Alumni group that could get together between BAR events.
“We are thrilled to get to interact with and learn more about the amazing things alumni are doing in their careers post CLA degree,” she said. “This network of alumni is powerful both on a local level and across the nation. Many people generously expressed their willingness and desire to come back to talk with students about their careers and experiences.”
At the Black Alumni Reunion awards gala, Velsie D. Pate (BA music 92, BA English 05, MA Southern Studies 09, MA TESL 12) received the Jackie Certion Guiding Light Award and Deterrian L. “D.T.” Shackelford (BA history 12, MA education 15, EdD 21) was the Alumni Achievement Award recipient.
Veslie D. Pate
Pate is an instructor for the intensive English program and the Center for Student Success and First Year Experience at the University of Mississippi. She has worked at the university for more than 32 years in various capacities and taught for over 13 of those 32 years.
Pate has completed her coursework for the second language studies PhD program with an emphasis in applied linguistics. She has passed her comprehensive exams and will next do a prospectus defense to continue her dissertation writing.
In 2021 Pate won the EDHE 303 Instructor of the Year Award from the Center for Student Success at the university. In addition to her teaching duties and coursework, she has served as advisor for the International American Student Alliance since 2016. She loves teaching and does everything she can to support, encourage, and inspire her students.
D.T. Shackelford
Deterrian “DT” Shackelford was a starting linebacker for the football team and helped the 2014 team lead the nation in scoring defense. A five-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection, a two-time semifinalist for the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award, and a two-time member of the SEC Community Service Team, he was named captain of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and won the Wuerffel Trophy honoring college football athletes who achieve greatness on the field and in the classroom while also serving others. Shackelford was a mentor to Oxford youth, led mission trips to Haiti and Panama, and helped lead efforts to fight hunger and fundraise for cancer research.
Following his time in Oxford, Shackelford had stints in Chicago and Dallas, where he used his talents to uplift communities and serve as a motivational speaker. His journey has led him back to his hometown of Decatur. The town’s nonprofit, Neighborhood Christian Center (NCC), is Shackelford’s next stop.