Our People: Frank Dorsey II

by L’Monique King qnotes Staff Writer

On a summer Tuesday afternoon, one of many planes lands at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Among those disembarking is a tall, dark and handsome young man.

Dressed in a light grey suit, complete with starched white shirt, purple paisley tie and a gold lapel pin, he looks ready for a business meeting. Frank D. Dorsey II, Johnson C. Smith University’s (JCSU) Associate Director of Student Leadership and Engagement has just returned from Arkansas, the place he was born and educated before making the decision to call Charlotte home.

As he makes his way through the busy concourse, Dorsey reflects on his role at JCSU, his impending departure and what’s next.

I’m going to try to increase my number of speaking appearances for Pride — trying to get in front of some crowds who only see Pride as festivities and not the opportunity for education, awareness and advocacy that it is.

Photography. I enjoy taking photos of people and the outside world. I really enjoy outdoor photography. If it’s a great day outside, I will take my camera and just explore. Next Mother’s Day I plan on doing a mother-son exhibit capturing mothers and sons in different settings.

Yes. I hadn’t seen my family in a while. Plus, after over a year of [COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest] chaos, I wanted to spend time and my 30th birthday with my mom.

[Chuckles] Yes, ‘cause I never know who I’m going to run into at the airport?

Absolutely. As a Black gay male professional, it comes with so many stereotypes. I feel like I have to break the stereotype of what it’s thought a Black man and a Black gay man should look like. Though I feel like people’s individual differences should be respected, I’m always in a situation where attire is political. Especially in the work that I do. As the youngest administrator sitting across from the table from more seasoned professionals, I want to be taken seriously. That means looking the part. If I walk around campus in sneakers and jeans, I’m easily mistaken for a student. I’ve had moments [on and off campus] when it’s obvious that there’s bias regarding appearance. Those are moments that I use as teaching experiences.

Respectability politics is a survival mechanism.

Four years and six months. I share an uptown apartment with a roommate, my best friend of 10 years.

I started working for JCSU after grad school at Arkansas Tech University. I oversee student activities and student organizations. I also provide leadership to the diversity and inclusion program for our student population.

The freedom to shake the table when necessary. I really get a chance to be an advocate for students and my colleagues always seem to appreciate my input. Even though I’m very frank about it at times, they’ve always been supportive.

I feel like it’s progressed over the years. At one time the narrative was that HBCUs were slow to extend their social justice mission to the Black LGBT community. But today, I feel as though they have progressed to be allies, advocates and family.

Healing happens on HBCU campuses. So, whether you are singing in the choir, marching in the band or walking with the modeling club, you find areas on campus where you can truly connect. You have an opportunity to share your experiences and learn from others through the art of storytelling. A lot of that happens on campus. Several have moved towards opening LGBT centers. NC Central University and NCA&T are two of them. JCSU has sponsored organizations like Charlotte Black Pride and remains open to partnering with them, HRC and Equality NC. They’re our three primary partnerships.

I lost my grandmother during the pandemic. Since losing her, I’ve decided to be closer to my family, to make sure my nephews make good choices; the military, college, starting their own businesses. I just want to make sure they aren’t lost to the gains of quick money. I want to be an active role model in their lives. They’re 14 and 16 years old. I want to go to their games and cheer them on, like they’ve always cheered me on.

I’ll be the Associate Dean of Students for Activities at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. I’m excited about it. It’s where I graduated from with my undergrad in general studies, with a concentration in recreation and wellness.

Yes, I have a partner. We’ve been together two years now. He’s a doctoral student at Howard, so it’s always been long-distance. He’s very supportive of my career, and we’ve made a commitment not to get in the way of each other’s dreams. To do the work that I do in creating more inclusive campuses is a dream — to be able to do that on the campus I grew up on is a dream and a blessing.

I’m honestly not viewing it as I am leaving. I’ll no longer work here anymore, but I’m so connected to the city, I don’t feel like this is a goodbye. I still attend church here and so many other things that matter to me. The pandemic taught us how to stay connected. So, whenever I come to Charlotte, I feel like I’m home. : :