Awards Banquet
SATURDAY,SEPTEMBER27,2025
7:30P.M.-10:30P.M.EST
OMNI ATLANTA HOTEL AT CENTENNIAL PARK
TheAnnualASALHAwardsBanquetrecognizesthecontributionsof ASALHmembers,communityandnationalleaderswhohavemade significantcontributionstoAfricanAmericanhistory.
Each year, ASALH presents several awards to recognize community leaders and those who make significant contributions to the preservation of African American history.
CARTER G. WOODSON SCHOLAR'S MEDALLION
Establishedin1993,theCarterGodwinWoodsonScholarsMedallionispresentedtoascholarwhosecareeris distinguishedthroughatleastadecadeofresearch,writing,andactivisminthefieldofAfricanAmericanlifeandhistory
MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE SERVICE AWARD
ThisawardwasestablishedintributetoDr.MaryMcLeodBethunebecauseofherdynamicleadershipandheryearsof contributingtoeducation,women’shistory,andAfrican-Americanlifeandculture.Dr.Bethuneservedasthefirst womanpresidentofASALHfrom1936to1951andisoneofthemostoutstandingwomenrolemodelsinourhistory
LIVING LEGACY AWARD
InpartnershipwithFarmersInsurance,theASALHLivingLegacyAwardshonorAfricanAmericanwomenandmen acrossthecountryengagedinextraordinaryworktoimprovecommunities,institutions,organizationsandfamilylife
FREEDOM SCHOLAR AWARD
AFreedomScholarseekstoempowerandinspire AFreedomScholarprovidesadirectbenefittoAfrican-American communitieslocallyornationally ASALHhasinitiatedtheFreedomScholarawardtohonorearlyscholarsofany disciplinewhocandemonstratethattheirfieldofstudyishavingadirectpositiveimpactonthelifeofAfrican-Americans.
THE ASALH LUMINARY AWARD
TheASALHLuminaryAwardwasestablishedtorecognizetheoutstandingworkandcontributionsrelatedtothe missionandgoalsofASALH,includingthelocalbranch,byapersoninthelocaleoftheannualconvention
COUNCIL AWARD OF SPECIAL RECOGNITION
ASALHestablishedtheAwardofSpecialRecognitiontoacknowledgethecontributionsofindividuals, institutionsandcorporationsthatmakeasubstantialcontributiontothesuccessofASALHinpursuingthe missionofitsfounder,Dr.CarterG.Woodson.
PRESIDENT’S SERVICE AWARD
ThePresident’sServiceAwardispresentedtoanindividualwhohasmadeexceptionalcontributionstotheAfrican Americancommunity,locallyandnationally ThePresidentofASALHselectsanindividualwhoserecordof communityserviceexemplifiesoneofthemostimportantobjectivesofASALH:selflessservicetotheAfrican Americancommunity.
THE DOROTHY PORTER WESLEY AWARD
TheDorothyPorterWesleyAwardwasestablishedin2018bytheInformationProfessionalsoftheAssociationforthe StudyofAfricanAmericanLifeandHistory(ASALH)tohonoranddocumenttheoutstandingworkofInformation Professionals;Bibliophiles,Librarians,Archivists,CuratorsandCollectors ManyofourInformationProfessionals havealsoplayedamajorroleinsupportingtheworkofASALH,byservinginleadershiprolesandasmembers.
ASALH ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET PROGRAM
KARSONYA WISE WHITEHEAD, MASTER OF CEREMONIES
IntroductionofMasterofCeremonies
Welcome,Occasion&IntroductionofExecutiveCouncil
GreetingsfromHostCommitteeChair
Invocation
Grace DinnerisServed
SylviaY.Cyrus,ExecutiveDirector
KarsonyaWiseWhitehead,ASALHPresident
MichaelJulianBond,AtlantaCityCouncilman
Rev.LisaRhodes,RISETogetherMentorshipNetwork
Rev ShawnDrains,SeniorPastor,SaintPaulAMEChurch
PRESENTATION OF AWARDS
PRESENTERS AWARDEES
President’sServiceAward Awardee:KimberléCrenshaw
BranchAwards
TheDorothyPorterWesleyAward Awardee:LorettaParham
ASALHLuminaryAwardPresentations Awardee:SheilaFlemming Awardee:RachaniceCandyTate Awardee:MaryFrancesEarly
FreedomScholarAwardPresentation Awardee:ArlishaNorwood
CouncilAwardofSpecialRecognitionPresentations Awardee:YolandaCovington-Ward Awardee:WoodsonHouseNationalParkServiceStaff Awardee:VedetColeman-Robinson Awardee:LaVonneNeal Awardee:AliciaMoore
LivingLegacyAwardPresentation Awardee:KevinJames
MaryMcLeodBethuneServiceAwardPresentation Awardee:NatanyaDuncan
CarterG.WoodsonScholarsMedallion Awardee:StephanieY Evans Awardee:DeirdreCooperOwens
ClosingRemarks
Benediction
KarsonyaWiseWhitehead,President
AnitaShepherd,VicePresidentforMembership
AaishaHaykal,VicePresidentforPrograms
MichaelJulianBond,AtlantaCityCouncilman
EricDuke,LACCo-Chair
SeanJones,AtlantaBranchPresidentandLACChair
AishaJohnson,AwardsCommittee
CameshaScruggs,AwardsCommitteeChair
SylviaCyrus,ExecutiveDirector
SylviaCyrus,ExecutiveDirector
KarsonyaWiseWhitehead,President
KarsonyaWiseWhitehead,President
LeslieEtienne,AwardsCommittee
EverettHardy,AwardsCommittee
CameshaScruggs,AwardsCommitteeChair CameshaScruggs,AwardsCommitteeChair
SylviaY.Cyrus,ExecutiveDirector
AnitaShepherd,VicePresidentforMembership
LORETTA PARHAM
THE DOROTHY PORTER WESLEY AWARD
LorettaParhamisEmeritaCEO&LibraryDirectoroftheRobertW. WoodruffLibraryoftheAtlantaUniversityCenter,Inc.,thesingle librarysharedbyfourmemberHBCUinstitutions.(ClarkAtlanta University,theInterdenominationalTheologicalCenter,Morehouse CollegeandSpelmanCollege)Underherleadershipandfundraising, $26Minrenovationswerecompleted.Thelibrarywasawardedthe ACRL2016ExcellenceinAcademicLibrariesAward.Withmorethan 30yearsintheprofessionherexperienceincludes:Directorofthe HamptonUniversityLibrary,DeputyDirectoroftheCarnegieLibrary ofPittsburgh,Pa.,DistrictChiefoftheChicagoPublicLibrary(CPL) andotherprofessionalpositionswiththeChicagoPublicSchoolsand CityColleges.Anactiveleader,scholarandengagingspeaker,Parham wasnamedtheACRL2017AcademicResearchLibrarianoftheYear, the2016DistinguishedAlumnaoftheUniversityofMichiganSchoolof InformationSciences,anda“Mover&Shaker”bytheindustry publicationLibraryJournal.ShehasauthoredarticlesonHBCU librariesandarchives,anddiversity.Parhamisco-founderandpastchair oftheHBCULibraryAlliance.Sheistheprouddaughterofthelate AmandaS.Rudd,thefirstfemaleandBlackLibraryCommissionerof theChicagoPublicLibrary.
SHEILA FLEMMING
APhD inAfricanandAfricanAmericanHistory,SheilaisFounderand PresidentoftheBlackRoseFoundationforChildren Themissionofthe foundationistoprovideresourcestoorganizationsseekingtoempower children,throughprograms,services,andadvocacy Sheilaisauthorof Bethune-CookmanCollege1904-1994:TheAnsweredPrayertoaDream andshehascontributedarticlesonAfricanandAfricanAmericawomen, NelsonMandela,MaryMcLeodBethune,andBlackWomen’sHealthin publishedworksandreviewedtextbooksfortheUNA/USA Herteaching andresearchinterestsincludethehistoryofBlackhighereducation, AfricanandAfricanAmericanhistory,withspecialemphasisonwomen andracerelations.Sheandherdaughters(AttorneyAleroAfejukuand Dr.AyoGathing)authoredtwochildren’sbooksandrecentlypennedan article,“LoveLessons:BlackWomenTeachingBlackGirlstoLove,”in BlackWomen’sMentalHealth:BalancingStrength&Vulnerability, editedbyStephanieY.Evans,KanikaBell&NsengaK.Burton.Having servedonseveralnationalboards,anArchivistfortheAfricanHeritage StudiesAssociation,amemberoftheBoardofDirectorsofMoore-Myers Children’sFundinJacksonville,FLandformerNationalPresidentofthe AssociationfortheStudyofAfricanAmericanLifeandHistory
LUMINARY AWARD
RACHANICE CANDY TATE
Dr.Rachanice(Ray-sha-niece)CandyTatejoinedtheTuskegee UniversityLibraryDivisionasCuratorandCo-DirectorofTheLegacy MuseumonMay1,2024.Shealsoholdsajointappointmentinthe DepartmentofFineandPerformingArts.TateisanalumnaofEmory University(BA,ArtHistory),GeorgiaStateUniversity(MPA,NonprofitAdministration),UniversityofWisconsin-Milwaukee(MA,Art History),andClarkAtlantaUniversity(DAH,History).Dr.Tateisa communityorganizerandinstitutionbuilder.Sheincorporatedand servedasBranchHistorianfortheAtlantaBranchoftheAssociation fortheStudyofAfricanAmericanLife&History(ASALH)from 2015-2019.ShehelpedestablishtheVeterans’HistoryProjectwiththe AtlantaHistoryCenter,depositedtheBranch’sarchiveswiththe AtlantaUniversityCenterRobertW.WoodruffLibrary,andcreateda partnershipwithJuneteenthAtlantaParade&MusicFestival.The 2016ASALHtheme“HallowedGrounds:SitesofAfricanAmerican Memory”inspiredhertoworkwiththeNationalParkServiceto restoreAtlanta’sHistoryFountain(Stone)HallandWheatStreet BaptistChurch.TatehashelpedestablishtheAthensandthe SavannahBranchesofASALHfollowingherpaternalandmaternal lineage.
MARY FRANCES EARLY
OnAugust16,1962,MaryFrancesEarlybecamethefirstAfrican AmericantograduatefromtheUniversityofGeorgiawithamaster’s degreeinmusiceducation.InspiredbyCharlayneHunter-Gaultand HamiltonHolmes,Ms.EarlymadeadeliberatechoicetoenrollatUGA alongsidethemtodesegregatethegraduateschool.Stilldisappointedby thelackofdiversityandpersistentsegregationoncampusafter graduating,shereturnedtoUGAin1964toearnhereducational specialistdegreeinmusiceducation Shelaterbecameamusicteacherin AtlantaPublicSchoolswhereshecontinuedtochallengeinjusticeand expandaccesstomusicforallstudentsbeforebeingpromotedtomusic directoroftheschoolsystem Duringhercareer,sheworkedwithteachers inthesystem’s100-plusschoolsandoversawthemusiccurriculum, budget,textbooks,andmore Ms Earlyretiredin1994afterworkingfor 37yearsinpublicschools ShelatertaughtatMorehouseCollegeand SpelmanCollegeasanadjunctprofessorandservedasheadofthemusic departmentatClarkAtlantaUniversity TheUniversityofGeorgia’s CollegeofEducationwasnamedinherhonorinFebruary2020 On January23,2025,Georgia’sUS SenatorRaphaelWarnockreadMs Early’saccomplishmentsandtheimpactofherworkatUGAandbeyond intotheCongressionalRecord
LUMINARY AWARD
ARLISHA NORWOOD
FREEDOM SCHOLAR AWARD
ArlishaR.Norwoodisanassistantprofessorofhistoryatthe UniversityofMarylandEasternShore.Herresearchfocuseson 19th-centuryAfricanAmericanhistorywithanemphasison BlackwomenandtheCivilWar Specifically,herwork examinessingleAfricanAmericanwomenintheCivilWarand post-CivilWareras.Herresearchhasbeensupportedbythe AndrewW.MellonFoundationandtheVirginiaHumanities. SheearnedaB.A.inhistoryfromDillardUniversity,anM.Ain historyfromTexasSouthernUniversity,andaPhD inhistory fromHowardUniversity
YOLANDA COVINGTON-WARD
COUNCIL AWARD OF SPECIAL RECOGNITION
YolandaCovington-WardisDepartmentChairandProfessorinthe WEB DuBoisDepartmentofAfro-AmericanStudiesattheUniversity ofMassachusettsatAmherst ShepreviouslyservedasChairofthe DepartmentofAfricanaStudiesattheUniversityofPittsburghfrom 2019-2022 SheisformerPresidentoftheAssociationforAfricanist AnthropologyandanAdvisoryBoardmemberoftheAssociationforthe StudyoftheWorldwideAfricanDiaspora ShereceivedherMA and PhD degreesinCulturalAnthropologyfromtheUniversityofMichigan andaBA inAfro-AmericanStudiesfromBrownUniversity Her researchfocusesonembodiment,identity,religion,performance,and politics,emphasizingtheagencyofpeopleofAfricandescentin transformingtheworldsaroundthem HerfirstbookGestureandPower: Religion,Nationalism,andEverydayPerformanceinCongo(Duke UniversityPress,2016)wasawardedthe2016AmauryTalbotAwardfor AfricanAnthropologyandthe2017ElliottP SkinnerBookAward Her secondbook,TransformationthroughMigration:Community,Conflict, andIdentityintheLiberianDiaspora,iscurrentlyundercontractatthe UniversityofPennsylvaniaPress.Sheco-editedtwovolumes,Embodying BlackReligionsinAfricaandItsDiasporas(DukeUniversityPress)and AfricanPerformanceArtsandPoliticalActs(UniversityofMichigan Press).
The2026re-openingoftheCarterG.Woodson HomeNationalHistoricSitewillrepresentthe culminationofa50-yeareffortbetweenASALHand theNationalParkService(NPS) In1976,ASALH developedplanstoconvertthesiteintoamuseum andlearningcenteraboutDr Woodson’slife Inthe sameyear,theNPSofficiallydesignatedthe WoodsonHomeasaNationalHistoricLandmark NationalParkServicesite,andin2005,itbecame the389 unitoftheNPS Specialthanksgoto recentlyretiredSuperintendentTaraMorrison,who, duringheralmostten-yeartenure,ensuredthatthe completionoftheCarterG.WoodsonHomewasa priority. th
Countlessadministratorsandtheentirestaffof NationalCapitalParks-Easthaveworkedtirelessly andthroughmanychallengestorestore,interpret, andsharethehistoricalimportanceofDr.Woodson andASALH.Thisawardistorecognizethe partnershipwithASALHandthededicatedwork andcommitmentthattheWoodsonHousestaffhas exemplified
WOODSON HOUSE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STAFF
COUNCIL AWARD OF SPECIAL RECOGNITION
VEDET COLEMAN-ROBINSON
VedetColeman-Robinson,Ph.D.servesasthepresidentandCEOofthe AssociationofAfricanAmericanMuseums(AAAM),amission-driven nonprofitorganizationwhosemembersbringtotheforefrontstoriesof civilrightsandsocialinjustice,chroniclethestridesthathavebeenmade inthoseareasandemphasizeinequalitiesthatstillexisttoday.As AAAM’spresidentandCEO,Coleman-Robinsonprovidesresourcesto ensuremembersremainresilientandnimbleandcanserveasbeaconsof hopeintimesofsocialunrest.
Coleman-RobinsonwasappointedasAAAM’sexecutivedirectorin 2019andwasnamedpresidentandCEOin2024.Underherleadership, AAAM’smembershiphasincreasedbyover270%,andmorethan$6.5 millionhasbeenraisedforthenonprofitorganization.
Dr.Coleman-Robinson,initiatedintoDeltaSigmaThetaSorority,Inc. throughtheAlphaEtaChapter,holdsaBachelorofArtsinU.S.history fromVirginiaStateUniversityandaMasterofArtsandaDoctorof PhilosophyinU.S.historywithaminorinpublichistoryfromHoward University.
COUNCIL AWARD OF SPECIAL RECOGNITION
LAVONNE NEAL
COUNCIL AWARD OF SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Dr.LaVonneI.Neal isProfessorEmeritaatNorthernIllinois University(NIU)andAssociateVicePresident,Administration& Finance(RET)/NIU Throughoutherprofessionalcareer,sheled rapidlychangingoperationsinthreediverseprofessions:(1)higher educationoperations;(2)productionoperationsinthecorporate sector;and(3)militaryintelligenceoperationsintheUS Army Also,Dr NealisCo-Editorfortheaward-winningBlackHistory Bulletin,anASALHacademicjournal;andrecipientof:(1)Two NationalBookAwards;(2)TwoNationalLeadershipAwards;and (3)UniversityTeachingAwards.Overthecourseofheracademic careerasDeanoftheCollegeofEducationatNIUandDeanofthe CollegeofEducationattheUniversityofColoradoatColorado Springs(UCCS),Nealimplementedanewcultureofassessment andleddigitaltransformationthroughoutthecolleges’programs. Shehasdemonstratedexperienceinfosteringprocessimprovement andinnovation,whileservinginbothacademicandadministrative roles.Nealisateacher-educatorwhoseresearchinthedesignand implementationofculturallyresponsiveteachingmethodshas earnedglobalrecognition
ALICIA MOORE
Dr.AliciaL.MooreistheCargillEndowedProfessorofEducationat SouthwesternUniversity,inGeorgetown,Texas,andanationally recognizedleaderinCulturallyResponsivePedagogy,Diversity,and EquityinHigherEducation.Forovertwodecades,shehasservedas co-editorofTheAssociationfortheStudyofAfricanAmericanLife andHistory(ASALH)BlackHistoryBulletin.Inthisrole,shecurates accessible,classroom-readycontentforeducatorscommittedto teachingBlackhistorywithdepthandintegrity.
Dr.MooreistherecipientoftheprestigiousASALHMaryMcLeod BethuneServiceAward,recognizingheroutstandingcontributionsto theadvancementofBlackhistoryeducation.Shewasalsoselectedas oneof15scholarstoattendtheWhiteHouse’sBlackHistoryMonth celebrationunderPresidentBarackObamaandASALH.
Asaneducationalconsultant,Dr.Moorepartnerswithinstitutionsto buildinclusivelearningenvironmentsanddevelopcurriculum resourcesthatcenterhistoricallymarginalizedvoices.Herwork consistentlychallengesstructuralinequitiesandpromoteseducational justice Throughscholarship,advocacy,andmentorship,Dr Moore continuestoshapeamoreinclusiveandequitablefutureforstudents andeducatorsnationwide
COUNCIL AWARD OF SPECIAL RECOGNITION
KEVIN JAMES
LIVING LEGACY AWARD
Dr KevinJamesisthe19thPresidentofMorrisBrownCollege,a historicalBlackcollegeinAtlanta,Georgia Underhisleadership,the collegeregainedaccreditationafteranearlytwenty-yearhiatus, becomingthefirstHBCUtoachievesuchafeat Drivenbya commitmenttoMorrisBrown'slegacy,heinitiatedthe #TheHardResetcampaign,successfullyrestoringtheinstitutionto complianceandrecognitionbytheDepartmentofEducation Witha careerspanningover23yearsasaneducator,administrator,executive businessleader,andmotivationalspeaker,Dr Jamesbringsawealthof experiencetohisroleastheChiefExecutiveOfficerofthecollege He hasbeenresponsibleforstabilizingfinances,expandingacademic offerings,increasingfundraising,launchinganewfive-yearstrategic plan,andachievingrecord-breakingenrollmentinthepasttwo decades UnderDr James’leadership,theinstitutionsecuredfull accreditationfromtheTransnationalAssociationofChristian CollegesandSchools(TRACS)onApril26,2022,enablingthecollege toregainaccesstofederalfinancialaidprogramsandTitleIVfunding HealsosolidifiedMorrisBrownCollege'sreinstatementasa participantintheStrengtheningHistoricallyBlackCollegesand UniversitiesprogramunderTitleIII
NATANYA DUNCAN
NatanyaDuncanistheDirectorofAfricanaStudiesatQueens CollegeCityUniversityofNewYorkandanAssociateProfessorof History.AhistorianoftheAfricanDiaspora,herresearchand teachingfocusesonglobalfreedommovementsofthe20thand 21stcenturies.Duncan’sresearchinterestincludesconstructionsof identityandnationbuildingamongstwomenofcolor;migrations; colorandclassinDiasporiccommunities;andtheengagementsof intellectualsthroughouttheAfricanDiaspora Hernewbook, throughTheUniversityofNorthCarolinaPress,AnEfficient Womanhood:WomenandtheUniversalNegroImprovement Association,focusesonthedistinctactiviststrategiesin-actedby womenintheUniversalNegroImprovementAssociation(UNIA), whichDuncantermsan“efficientwomanhood”Followingthe wayswomenintheUNIAscriptedtheirownunderstandingofPan Africanism,BlackNationalismandconstructionsofDiasporic Blackness,theworktracestheblendingofnationalistandgendered concernsamongstknownandlesserknownGarveyitewomen.
MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE SERVICE AWARD
STEPHANIE Y. EVANS
CARTER G WOODSON SCHOLAR MEDALLION
StephanieY.Evans,PhD,isaProfessorofBlackWomen'sStudies (Women'sGenderandSexualityStudies&affiliatefacultyinAfrican AmericanStudies)atGeorgiaStateUniversity.Sheservedasdepartment chairfortwelveconsecutiveyearsatGeorgiaStateUniversity,Clark AtlantaUniversity,andUniversityofFlorida.Dr.Evansco-foundedthe ChairattheTableinternationalnetworkofBlackwomenhigher educationadministrators.ShehasbeenamemberoftheAssociationof BlackWomenHistorians(ABWH)since2003andisthe2025ABWH NationalDirector.Dr.Evansisauthorandco-editorofninebooks.Her single-authoredworksinclude,BlackFeministWriting:APractical GuidetoPublishingAcademicBooks(SUNY2024),BlackWomen's YogaHistory:MemoirsofInnerPeace(SUNY2021),andBlackWomen intheIvoryTower,1850-1954:AnIntellectualHistory(UF2007).She isleadco-editoroffivebooksincluding,DearDepartmentChair: LettersfromBlackWomentotheNextGenerationofLeaders(Wayne State2023)andBlackWomen'sMentalHealth:BalancingStrengthand Vulnerability(SUNY2017).Shehasservedasaconsultanttoeditorsof severalforthcominginterdisciplinarybookprojects.Findthefullprofile forProfessorEvansonlineatwww.professorevans.net
R OWENS
OLAR MEDALLION
DeirdreCooperOwensisanAssociateProfessorofHistoryand AfricanaStudiesattheUniversityofConnecticut Between2018-2023, shesimultaneouslydirectedthePrograminAfricanAmericanHistory attheLibraryCompanyofPhiladelphiaandthemedicalhumanities programattheUniversityofNebraska ShewastheonlyBlackwoman inthecountrywhoservedasdirectorofanacademicmedical humanitiesprogram SheisanOrganizationofAmericanHistorians’ DistinguishedLecturer,apastAmericanCollegeofObstetriciansand GynecologistsFellow,andamemberoftheAmericanAntiquarian Society TimeMagazinenamedherasoneofthecountry’s“best historians”Forfifteenyears,Dr CooperOwenshasworkedwithan arrayoforganizations,birthworkers,artists,asaconsultantandexpert onthehistoryofBlackwomen’scontributionstomodernAmerican gynecology Further,CooperOwenshaswonseveralprestigiousawards forherscholarshipandadvocacywork Herbook,MedicalBondage: Race,GenderandtheOriginsofAmericanGynecology,wonaDarlene ClarkHineBookAwardfromtheOrganizationofAmericanHistorians asthebestbookwritteninAfricanAmericanwomen’shistory She's currentlyworkingonapopularbiographyaboutHarrietTubmanthat examinesherlifethroughthelensofdisability
KIMBERLÉ CRENSHAW
PRESIDENT’S AWARD
KimberléWilliamsCrenshawisaProfessorofLawat ColumbiaandUCLAandisaleadingauthorityoncivilrights, Blackfeministlegaltheory,CriticalRaceTheory,andrace, racismandthelaw.Sheisawidelycitedscholarwhose groundbreakingworkonintersectionality,atermshecoined, hastraveledglobally Asanactivistshelaunchedthe #SayHerNamecampaignwhichbroughtattentiontoBlack womenkilledbypoliceviolenceandsheistheExecutive DirectoroftheAfricanAmericanPolicyForum,agenderand racialjusticelegalthinktank,andtheCenterfor IntersectionalityandSocialPolicyStudiesatColumbiaLaw School
