CEO Insights: Black Alumni Making an Impact on the World

The Alumni Association strives to be an inclusive and welcoming alumni community, one that brings together and is representative of all the Penn Staters we serve. In that spirit, I invite all alumni to participate in Penn State’s celebration of Black History Month throughout February. Many events are planned to recognize the contributions of African Americans to society and to the University.

Black History Month provides an opportunity to recognize how varied people’s experiences at Penn State have been. For example, the African American Chronicles: Black History at Penn State website details great strides the University has taken to promote diversity, but also times it fell short. However, celebrating Black History Month is about more than acknowledging moments in our past: it’s also about the things we do today and the dreams we have for tomorrow.

With that in mind, I’ve been reflecting on some of the inspirational stories alumni have shared on the People of Penn State podcast over the past few years, and I'd like to share them with you. Having the opportunity to meet them and hear their stories has broadened my perspective and appreciation for the experiences they have had. They make me even more proud to be a Penn Stater, and I hope you feel the same way when you listen to them.?

Christina Parle is an equity, inclusion, and diversity educator and consultant with her company, Social Responsibility Speaks. Her work is rooted in unlearning, conflict resolution, and effective communication. She has a particular interest in language and its impacts, with specific experience in behavioral conduct, curriculum writing, and leadership education. In 2022 she received the Alumni Achievement Award.

Dr. Kahlid Mumin started his career as a Secondary English teacher in 1997 and rose through the leadership ranks of Pennsylvania’s educational system. Before being named Pennsylvania Secretary of Education he served in various capacities as a teacher, dean of students, principal, and central administrator, including stints as superintendent of schools at Lower Merion School District and superintendent of Reading School District.

A practicing physician for over 25 years, Dr. Ala Stanford used the infrastructure of her pediatric surgery practice during the COVID-19 pandemic to create a grassroots organization to focus on testing, contact tracing, and vaccination in communities devoid of access to care and resources. In addition to opening a Center for Health Equity to improve health outcomes in communities with the lowest life expectancy, her organization was responsible for providing over 100,000 COVID-19 tests and vaccinations.

Dawn Manning has worked with some of entertainment’s biggest names, including Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Terrell Owens, Common, Jason Derulo, Nicki Minaj, and more. Currently an executive producer at Westbrook Media—Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s production company—Manning joined us to discuss her passion for entertainment, music, and sports, the projects she's worked on in her career, the challenges she's faced in production as a black woman, advice to new producers, and more.

Shadé Olasimbo is an Emmy-nominated video producer, editor, and videographer based in Atlanta, where she runs FCOlasimbo Productions, LLC. She is also a senior video producer at HubSpot, where she's the lead producer behind the Hustle YouTube Channel. Shadé talked about her passion for telling the stories of others, her work with our African American Alumni Organizations, and how she's been inspired by Black Penn Staters of the past and the present.

Jeff Ballou has reached incredible heights as a journalist, including being the first African-American male President to lead the 114-year-old National Press Club. He is a producer for ABC News and previously served as news editor for the Al Jazeera Media Network's English language channel. In our conversation he discussed his passion for journalism, covering current events around the globe, how his love for Penn State started, and other topics.

Brandon Carter’s passion is Shakespeare. As artistic director of the American Shakespeare Center, his mission is to “Break the Legacy” of what Shakespeare's roles look and sound like, especially at an epicenter of culture surrounding Shakespeare and his early modern contemporaries. He told us about his career journey to the Shakespeare Center, using his role as an avenue for activism, and more.

Brian Anthony Davis, an educator activist, and inspirational speaker, joined us to talk about his experiences as the associate director of equity and inclusion at a San Francisco high school, speaking at multiple TED Talk events, and his special relationship with former Penn State President Eric Barron. He also discussed issues of inequality and racism, staying involved with the College of Liberal Arts as a volunteer, and a lot more.

Since graduating in 2013, Ryan K. Brown, Jr. has served in the United States Navy as a Lieutenant, co-founded his own Trinidadian Hot Pepper Sauce company, joined the Military Leadership Development Program at Johnson and Johnson, became a member of Alumni Council, earned his master's degree from the Smeal College of Business, and more. He joined us to discuss his time at Penn State, where he held a leadership position for Black Caucus, his experiences in the Navy, founding the "We Are Wonderfully Made" sauce company, and other topics.

John Amaechi, OBE. John Amaechi OBE is a respected organizational psychologist, best-selling author, public speaker, executive coach, and founder of APS Intelligence. Oh, by the way, he is also a former Nittany Lion Basketball star and NBA player He joined us to discuss The Promises of Giants, his thought-provoking look at the role of leaders and leadership in society.

Haley McClain Hill ’18, US Air Force First Lieutenant, former NFL Cheerleader, and Entrepreneur, shared her Penn State story, her experiences serving our country in the Air Force, life as an NFL cheerleader, her new clothing line, and much more. You can watch Haley on the Feb. 2 episode of ABC's Shark Tank as she seeks funding for her startup, Torch.

Perhaps you’ve already heard some of these interviews; if not, I hope you’ll check them out, and that you find these conversations as enlightening and inspiring as I have.

Here are some additional online resources where you can learn more about the history of African Americans at Penn State:

• University Libraries: University History: the Black experience at Penn State
• Black Alumni at Penn State Oral History Project
• Penn State University Archives Photograph Collection: African American students (Black students) Series

For the Glory,

Paul