Mount Union plans Black History Month lectures
ALLIANCE – University of Mount Union has announced four luncheon lectures in recognition of Black History Month.
Each event will include a keynote speaker and recognition of a community Pathfinder and one student, based on the theme of that day.
All luncheon lectures will be 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in Gallaher Theatre of Mount Union’s Giese Center for the Performing Arts.
The schedule is as follows:
Feb. 2 – Humanitarianism. Featured speaker will be Tiana Jones. and Pathfinder recipients are Pastors Bobby and Joyce Williams. Jones is former president of the Executive Women Golf Association, and vice president of the Club Managers Association of America student chapter. She is a graduate of Alliance High School and was the first African American female to ever win a golf state championship in Ohio in 2009. Bobby Williams provides worship service at Alliance Community Care Center and does Chapel Services at Indian River Juvenile Center. Williams, who read to elementary classes in Alliance City Schools, is a U.S. Marine who served during the Vietnam War Era. Joyce Williams’ “vision journey” started after the acquisition of their present church location, 114 E. Main St. Alliance, birthing New Beginnings House of God, a non-denominational church, and Feed My Sheep Ministries, an outreach ministry. Mount Union student Urgela “Cla” Figaro will also be recognized during this luncheon.
Feb. 9 – STEM education. Featured lecturer will be Kenya Harrington, and the Pathfinder recipient is Michael G. Grimes, M.D. Harrington, an Alliance native, serves as executive director of academic achievement for Bedford City Schools and has 24 years of experience within the field of education. Grimes is a board-certified family practice physician with more than 25 years of experience in the medical field who is currently practicing at Mercy Hospital Primary Care in North Canton. Mount Union student Giavonna Hill will also be recognized during this luncheon.
Feb. 14 – Education. Featured speaker will be Erica Glover, and the Pathfinder recipient will be Dr. Michelle Collins-Sibley. Glover currently supports students through her organization Disrupter University, which provides intercultural coaching for educators and leadership development for scholars. Collins-Sibley joined the Mount Union faculty in 1994, and teaches English, directs the Africana Studies Program and teaches in the Gender and Sexuality and Peacebuilding and Social Justice Programs as well as the Honors Program and the Department of Literature and Communication Arts. Mount Union student Jordin James will also be recognized during this luncheon.
Feb. 23 – Business. Featured speaker will be Carla Chapman, and Pathfinder recipient will be Jerry Williams. Chapman is chief diversity officer for Akron Public Schools and has been working with the district for 27 years. Williams has been with Alternative Residential Treatment for 21 years, where he assists in protecting the rights of people with developmental disabilities and supports their inclusion and participation into society at large. Mount Union student Isaiah Edwards will also be recognized during this luncheon.
The luncheon lectures are free and open to the public, but space is limited. RSVPs can be submitted at mountunion.edu/diversity-and-inclusion. For more information, email canestta@mountunion.edu.
This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Mount Union plans Black History Month lectures
