ISU Anderson-Merriweather Spring 2023 Newsletter

What’s Inside!

Inspiring, influential, and approachable are a few words that describe Dr. Leon Jackson. Since being appointed chancellor of Marian University’s Saint Joseph’s College in 2021, he has been on a mission to help others become their best selves. Jackson, an Indianapolis native, is the senior administrator responsible for leading, guiding, and mentoring faculty and students while assisting in recruiting students into the program.

Saint Joseph’s College is Marian’s two-year associate degree college based on the school’s campus, where students study business administration or liberal arts while also working as paid interns with community business partners. Jackson firmly believes that a two-year college degree is the first step many talented students will take to become transformational leaders.

Jackson’s affiliation with Marian University began in 2017 when he served as Executive Director of strategic planning. A successful and innovative leader, Jackson created the Diversity in Leadership (DIL) program to educate a more diverse pool of community leaders. DIL is designed to help close gaps in educational attainment, wealth, skills, and opportunity for

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Dr. Jackson

Innovative Leader

Dr. Leon Jackson

Dr. Jackson - Innovative Leader (contd...)

minoritized groups and create more inclusive living, working, and learning communities, enhancing Central Indiana’s thriving regional ecosystem.

The program will help fulfill Indiana’s need to develop a talent pool within Central Indiana by supporting highly qualified and diverse

professionals for senior leadership positions in the public, private, nonprofit, and social sectors while supplementing the region’s talent attraction and retention efforts. DIL is a program in partnership with the University of Notre Dame, Butler University, Purdue University, and Indiana University.

Ms. Julia Bruce – Gold Standard

Hello AACC family

The time is bittersweet for Ms. Julia Bruce, our campus treasure and heart of the cultural center to begin her retirement journey.

Please join us for a farewell celebration reception to honor achievements, contributions, and lasting impact on The Charles E. Brown, African American Cultural Center and the entire Indiana State University campus community.

We will celebrate Ms. Bruce on her last day at Indiana State University on May 31st, 2023, from 4:00-6:30 pm in the Charles E. Brown African American Cultural Center. We would love for you all to come and send her well wishes and love and genuinely honor a woman whose heart became the gold standard.

Tradara McLaurine Author

Jerone Wood – Councilman

In 2019 Jerone Wood was elected to the Columbus, Indiana, City Council when he defeated a long-time Republican incumbent by just one vote. Becoming the first-ever African-American elected to the council, Wood has a mission of helping inspire and encourage our youth and support those in need. Raised by strong women and surrounded by strong men, he has a solid base of mentors along the way.

“It’s been a busy but great four years serving my

Unique and dynamic are a couple of words that describe the many gifts of Tradara McLaurine. In addition to having over ten published articles, two hundred workshop presentations, and over one hundred crochet items., she dreamed of becoming an author of children’s books.

In 2017 she made good on her dream when she published “Why Mommy Works” and “Why Daddy Works.” Growing up, Tradara wrote poetry and episodes for Kenan & Kel and Family Matters. “I thought they were pretty good, but they never made it to prime time,” she said with a big smile.

community on the city council! I am excited about the opportunity to continue serving for another four years! Every vote counts, and I would greatly appreciate your vote for District 3,” Councilman Wood recently shared on his social media network. In-person absentee voting has begun for the May 2nd Columbus City primary.

Tradara McLaurine

Jerone Wood

“It’s been a busy but great four years serving my community on the city council! I am excited about the opportunity to continue serving for another four years! Every vote counts, and I would greatly appreciate your vote for District 3,”

-Jerone Wood

McLaurineAuthor

(contd...)

For Tradara, writing was more of an outlet, and she never thought of making a career out of it because she enjoyed it too much. “It was something sacred to me. I am private, so creating a website and a book is out of my comfort zone.” She has worked with hundreds of college students and frequently told them that the best place for learning is outside their comfort zone. So here she is, practicing what she preached! “I Want A Nickname” is her third release and can be found with her others books at tradaramclaurine.com.

Takisha Franklin Candles, Catering, and Care

You can expect a variety of superb candles and quality self-care products with Ms. Franklin Candles, Catering & Care. Unique without a doubt, as she showcases exclusive self-care products for every individual’s needs.

Each candle is hand poured and mindfully cured for the perfect aroma with natural soy wax and clean fragrance oils. The care products such as the luxury Botanical Lip glosses are vegan friendly and perform beautifully as a daily moisturizing lip shine. For more information or to book a service, check out msfranklinccc.com.

Shoutouts

and

for being honored with ISU Residental Life’s Inclusive Excellence Award.

Congratulations to our Graduate Student, Andriana Stephens, for being inducted to our ISU Omicron Delta Kappa Honorary Society.

Tradara

Takisha Franklin

To Divine Lane

Michael Seawood

“It was something sacred to me. I am private, so creating a website and a book is out of my comfort zone.”

-Tradara McLaurine

Christina Porter - The GM

her Godparents and started a radio show on Tha1 Radio. Christina has always had a passion for media, hospitality, and community and was excited to begin her new life chapter after college.

time, saw Christina’s potential and hired her as a server. Within a few months, she became a customer service representative and a year and a half later, was assistant manager at the Austin, Texas location.

Some may know little Chrissy from the early 90s when her mother, Catrina Porter, attended ISU. Others may know her as Crystyle from Hotmix 90 on 89.7 FM. Now, she is the third African American General Manager of Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse. “It is an honor and a blessing to be in this position. My dreams are now a reality. Since I was six years old, I have had three goals. Become a chef, be on radio/tv, and graduate from ISU like my mom.”

Christina graduated in 2012 with a communication degree in radio/tv/film and civic leadership. She was a 21stcentury scholar and is a Terre Haute native. After graduation, she moved to San Antonio with

Since she was eighteen, Christina has worked in the restaurant industry. “Honestly, it saved my life,” she said. “I focused on the grind of being famous, and no one told me how hard life’s journey would be. Living with Godparents, car breaking down, minimal money and being far from Indiana, I had to figure things out.”

If you ask, Christina will tell you that God guided her every step of the way. She always had a restaurant job, rather local or franchised and decided to take a leap of faith and enter the fine dining industry.

As she joined the Brazilian Steakhouse culture, Christina learned more about the art of hospitality, wines, spirits and how well they paired with food. She felt blessed with the opportunity to work with Fogo de Chao in San Antonio, which started in 2017. Her Area Director, Alex Velando, her General Manager at the

When Covid-19 stopped the world, Christina continued working for Fogo de Chao and transferred to Pittsburgh. Starting as the Frontof-House Manager, she expanded her skills to the Back-of-The-House Manager. She was learning more about invoices, scheduling, profits and losses, and guest relations.

Within a year, Christina received the opportunity to transfer to the Houston location. Now back in Texas, this store, the second created in the United States and open for twenty-three years, would give her all the tools she needed to advance.

“I know one thing is certain, and two things are for sure. God is amazing and anything is possible, and no one can stop you but you.” With her recent promotion, Christina is General Manager at Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse in Friendswood, Texas.

Christina Porter

Anderson-Merriweather

Indiana State’s Black Alumni Network Alumni Society