Oakwood University Ready to Welcome You (Virtually)
to Alumni Homecoming
by Emile D. Parker, MBA - Director of Alumni Relations
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Get Ready Oakwood Alumni & Friends to get RECOMMITTED to service Beyond the Oaks, sharing the Oakwood story, recruiting and mentoring students, and volunteering to help grow Oakwood's footprint in your area -- because Oakwood is Forever in our hearts!!
We continue to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to fill living rooms across the world during this program-packed Homecoming 2021.
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SHOUT OUT to all our HONOR CLASSES THIS YEAR!! The Division of Advancement, the Office of Alumni Relations, and the Alumni Council celebrate your special reunion year and invite each one of you to engage during our Virtual Alumni Homecoming 2021 April 1 to 4, 2021.
Some of our 2021 Honor Class Presidents and officers have already reached out to their alma mater to plan their Alumni Homecoming engagement activities and goals. If you are one of this year's Honor Class Presidents, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 256-726-7039 immediately so we can get you started.
If you haven't heard from your class reunion organizers, please share the following information with your classmates -- you don't want them to miss out:
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ENGAGEMENT THROUGH SERVICE - On Friday, April 2, and Sunday, April 4, we will be having our virtual Alumni 360 initiative events, and we would like many alums from our honor classes to help the University get our students "Career-Certified" for today's job market. Please email names and contact info to [email protected] of those alums from your class interested in participating with their department's faculty, and student club leaders, to serve as mentors, provide internships, or even job opportunities.
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ENGAGEMENT THROUGH OAKWOOD CLASS MEMORIES - Virtually, after our Sabbath Divine Worship Service on April 3, we are having an Honor Class Memories Program -- a video montage of pictures, videos, and narration of special stories from our Honor Classes about their Oakwood experience.
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ENGAGEMENT THROUGH GIVING - In 2020, the 12 honor classes gave over $57,000 leading up to Alumni Homecoming through their generous donations toward scholarships, the annual fund, and capital campaign projects of their choosing. Praise GOD! As we did during our virtual Homecoming Divine Worship service last year, the Office of Alumni Relations will be sharing class acknowledgments on the following class accomplishments:
- The Class that raises or gives the most.
- The Class that has the highest giving participation
- The Class that reaches or comes closest to its goal
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ENGAGEMENT THROUGH HAVING FUN - Saturday Night Fun will include Honor Class get-togethers on Zoom. Along with these virtual class reunion parties, we will also have a Slam Dunk Contest, and virtual escape room events as well. Look for coming links to join the fun.
GET READY! Virtual Alumni Homecoming 2021 is going to be amazing...
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Alumni 360 is an initiative the Office of Alumni Relations and Career Connections Center, where Oakwood alumni circle back to Oakwood to network for their profession and for our students, to provide career readiness insights, mentoring, internships, and job opportunities.
Look for your department's Alumni 360 events during this upcoming 2021 Virtual Alumni Homecoming on either Friday, April 2, or Sunday, April 4, between 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
We've listed here a few of the departments that will be hosing Alumni 360 events. Many of our 12 Reunion Honor Classes will be plugging-in and we want to invite any of our Oakwood alumni to do the same.
Help Oakwood with your career expertise and experiences to prepare our current students to be "Career-Certified" for today's job market. If you attended Oakwood and were forever blessed by one of our departments and are interested in participating this year, please contact [email protected].
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As one of our 6 WAYS TO GIVE, our second order of the very popular "Alumni Homecoming in a BOX" is available again. Those who gave to student scholarships by ordering their boxes during our PRE-ORDER period will receive their boxes near the time of Homecoming. GREAT NEWS! -- Starting now until one day after Homecoming, those who give and order their "Alumni Homecoming in a Box" between NOW and April 5 at midnight -- will receive their Alumni Homecoming in a BOX before this year's Oakwood University Graduation on May 8. Simply go to give.oakwood.edu and type in "BOX," then click and give..
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PsychologyDegreeGuide.org Lists Oakwood University as
One of the Top HBCU Psychology Programs
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PsychologyDegreeGuide.org, a leading higher education research and resource provider in the psychology space, has announced its 2021 rankings for the top undergraduate psychology programs offered by the nation's best HCBUs. The company researched programs from around the nation to highlight the very best in this important field.
"Finding the top schools offering the highest quality psychology programs for undergraduate students required us to weigh a number of different factors," said Jason Samarin, founder and CEO of PsychologyDegreeGuide.org. "Our data experts spent months researching the psychology degree programs at the nation's top Historically Black Colleges and Universities to find those schools that truly stood out when it comes to academics, curriculum, affordability and student support." Oakwood University is number 19 on the 2021 rankings.
The ranking methodology evaluated metrics designed to determine appeal to prospective students, including student-to-faculty ratios and enrollment rates for accepted students, as well as factoring in acceptance rates, graduation rates, tuition costs, and other data points. The 2021 rankings use the most recent data compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics as provided through their IPEDS and College Navigator platforms, as well as information provided on the universities' websites, among other sources.
To be eligible for placement in PsychologyDegreeGuide.org rankings, schools must be an accredited public or private not-for-profit institution and submit an annual report to the National Center for Education Statistics.
“Obtaining a national ranking among HBCUs is a tremendous honor. This ranking highlights the hard work of our amazing students and dedicated faculty. Although we are among smaller HBCUs, our students perform well and are being developed into competent researchers in their area of interest among the many subfields of psychology. Students in the Department of Psychological Sciences benefit from a low student-to-faculty ratio and are provided with personalized attention and mentorship from caring faculty. Our faculty personally prepare our students by providing opportunities to work with them on their own research projects. Our students learn through engagement and are later provided opportunities to present their own research projects at regional conferences. We take pride in preparing our students to be strong candidates and performers at the graduate and professional levels,” said Martin Hodnett, Psy.D.
Chair, Department of Psychological Sciences.
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Women in Oakwood's History
by Miriam W. Battles, BA, CFRM - Development Officer
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During Women's History Month, we have highlighted four notable Oakwood Women. We trust their lives continue to motivate and inspire each of us to do our best and become the best we can possibly be, and bring glory and honor to God Who has richly gifted each woman. |
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Minneola Dixon
The Consummate Archivist/Historian
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When you think of excellence, grace, and dignity, Minneola Dabney Williams Dixon is certainly one of the women heading the list. Her professionalism was evident in her demeanor, articulation, creativity, and execution. Minneola served Oakwood University for approximately 40 years in various capacities, including secretary/ administrative assistant, up to and including director of several departments and programs. Every position was graced with Minneola’s unique positive enthusiasm
Minneola Dabney was born on July 19, 1929, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Sebastian Cabot Dabney and Alberta Sanders. Minneola and her family were members of the Beulah Seventh-day Adventist Church in Oklahoma City. Upon her graduation from high school, Minneola received several scholarship offers to attend public colleges; however, she enrolled at Oakwood College in 1947.
It seems perfectly natural that Minneola served as a reader for the highly accomplished Eva B. Dykes, while also being featured as soloist for the Aeolians, under the direction of Dr. Dykes. She was very active in student life and served as president of the business club, and became an officer for the graduating class of 1951. Soon after she married James Philip Williams, he received a call to active duty and the couple reported to Camp Pickett, Virginia. The couple relocated to Oklahoma, Oklahoma, and reared a family of four children. While continuing her professional career she was very active in her local church as director of youth choirs, and church communications secretary.
In 1970, after the Williams’ marriage ended in divorce, then President Dr. Frank Hale offered Minneola a job as secretary/administrative assistant to Mr. Adell Warren in the Oakwood College Business Office. In addition to various duties, she organized a campus student work program. As a result of her success, she became the first director of Student Employment. As campus industries closed, Minneola quickly developed the first program providing students jobs in the community, including designing an application, contract, and evaluations for the program.
In 1979 she married Dreadsie J. Dixon. In 1986 Mrs. Dixon became the director of the Office for Alumni Affairs until 1988. She served as Homecoming Weekend coordinator from 1974 to 1991. Her promotional skills led to the explosion in attendance at this annual event, so much so that services were moved from campus to the Von Braun Civic Center Arena. During her tenure as Alumni Affairs Director she conducted the first fundraising phonathon, started the President’s Reception, and published the first alumni directory. In 1988 she became the second archivist for the university. In 1991, when she was invited to become the director of the college’s Archives and Museum, Mrs. Dixon went back to school to earn a Master of Library and Information Studies degree from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. She held the position until 2009.
Mrs. Dixon persuaded regional conferences to donate artifacts and documents to the College Archives, quadrupling the holdings. She and her staff conducted hundreds of interviews with Oakwood pioneers; cataloged periodicals, books, and pictures; planned Black History Month programs; reorganized the museum; conducted numerous historical bus tours; and brought widespread attention to Oakwood through her public relations efforts. Mrs. Dixon helped get the campus listed on the Alabama Register of Historic Places, researched the history of Dred Scott’s relationship to Oakwood, led out in placing historical markers around the campus; and coordinated the effort to mark the slave cemetery that was discovered on Oakwood’s property. In 1991 she delivered the first Oakwood Heritage Moment segment on WOCG, now WJOU. This daily five-minute radio program narrated key events and personalities in Oakwood’s history. She also started a weekly column in Huntsville’s Speaking Out newspaper.
One of Mrs. Dixon’s crowning moments was serving as the guest editor for the Adventist Heritage magazine’s 1996 spring edition, highlighting 16 stories about the history of Oakwood in commemoration of Oakwood College’s centennial. To preserve and advance the story of Oakwood University was her life-long passion. Her colossal efforts to keep the story alive are on display each time you visit the Clara Peterson Rock Museum, or the expanded Archives department, both of which are located in the Eva B. Dykes Library.
Although Mrs. Dixon retired in 2009, she maintained an active lifestyle in many professional, church, and civic organizations. She passed away on April 1, 2014, in Huntsville.
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Oakwood Faculty Member to Present on Music
and Social Justice at University of St. Francis
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The University of St. Francis (USF) Music and Performing Arts Department and the Illinois chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) will host Jason Max Ferdinand, DMA, for a special virtual presentation and discussion on the intimate connections between music and social justice in a session for choral directors, students, and the community on Monday, April 5 at 7 p.m. CDT.
Ferdinand's book, Teaching with Heart: Tools for Addressing Societal Challenges through Music, will serve as platform for the discussion, which will delve into Ferdinand's experiences as conductor of the Aeolians of Oakwood University and as an agent for cultural change.
Paul Laprade, USF Music and Performing Arts Department chair, said the presentation and discussion hold a special significance within the USF choral curriculum.
"We have been among the first schools to incorporate Dr. Ferdinand's work into our choral curriculum this year, so this is a special honor for all of us. The ACDA grant, which has made this event possible, supports the costs of hosting, advertising, and bringing Dr. Ferdinand to our classroom and to the wider ACDA organization," Laprade said.
Jason Max Ferdinand is the director of choral activities, professor, and chair of the music department at Oakwood University. He directs the Aeolians of Oakwood University and, as evidenced by noteworthy awards, has distinguished himself on the national and international choral stages. In 2017, he earned the Outstanding Director and Choir of the World awards at the Llangollen International Musical Festival, in Wales. In 2018, his choir won three gold medals at the 10th World Choir Games held in South Africa, and also won the competition's overall championship in both the Spirituals and University Choir categories. He is a published composer with GIA publications, and is exhilarated about his new choral series with Walton Music. The Aeolians made their first appearance at the national conference of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) in 2019 and the term "they broke ACDA" was used to describe their outstanding presentation. Teaching with Heart is a new book released by Ferdinand and is a useful choral compendium for all choral directors. Ferdinand holds non-terminal degrees from Oakwood University, Morgan State University, and a doctorate in choral conducting from the University of Maryland.
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Oakwood Farms Market Featured by Local Author |
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Amber Poole writes in a Huntsville-based blog that the Oakwood Farms Market is the newest restaurant on the list of Black-owned Vegan Businesses in Huntsville. "They are a vegetarian and vegan market with a café and smoothie bar. The café offers several vegan options including Chicken Pesto Panini, Chicken Salad, Impossible Burger, and Beyond Pizza. They have a Wellness Zone, Bulk Section, and fresh locally grown produce. On-site, there is indoor/outdoor seating both with Wi-Fi connections," she said.
Amber Poole is originally from the Huntsville area, and is passionate about helping to raise awareness about eating plant-based and encouraging others through engaging content and easily accessible information. She started as a vegetarian 23 years ago in Huntsville and has been vegan for over five years. It’s her goal to show being vegan is easy and to make the lifestyle approachable.
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Charles Osborne IV is currently 20 years old and a Sophomore at Oakwood University. In his spare time, Charles enjoys playing basketball, singing, and drawing. |
He is known to be passionate, driven, competitive, and adaptable to any given situation. Upon graduating, Charles plans to use his degree in theology to work as a Chaplain in either a hospital or the military. “I enjoy working with people one-on-one. Therefore, being a Chaplain is best for me because I’d get obtain those pure relationships with all sorts of people.” |
Charles currently holds the leadership role of Social Vice President of the United Student Movement. His job is to bring about events that are both fun and safe for the student body. Prior to being Social Vice, Charles served on the social vice team under a different leader. There, he and others would help in setting up various events and activities. |
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When asked why he took on the role of Social Vice, he stated “Even though I was a part of the team, I didn't originally see myself being the leader. I was actually appointed to the position by a friend of mine. From last semester, I put a lot of time into this team and I understood the ropes. So, after a lot of prayers, I realized that God sent that friend to me in order for me to take on this position.”
As of this semester, Charles has conducted numerous events. Some of his most memorable ones have been Winter Fest, Who’s Under The Mask?, Glo Night, The Selfie Museum, Harlem Nights and Karaoke Night, just to name a few. Just like with anything in life, there are always some obstacles that one must endure. As a nation, we are all currently dealing with the same obstacle: Covid-19, which has posed a few challenges for Charles as a leader. “With Covid around, it is my job to make sure that events are safe, and enforce the importance of following the health and safety protocols. Moreover, in such a time, it’s more difficult trying to get people involved to come out and participate.” Despite these challenges, Charles has worked to make each event nothing but a success.
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During a recent “Music Journeys” podcast, Sheléa, ’03, shares her earliest musical memories. "We would always fight over who was going to be the man and who was going to be the woman," she said with a laugh of “More than Wonderful” by Sandi Patty and Larnelle Harris.
She goes on to share how the love of music began, the inspiration for her latest songs, and to reflect on her most memorable performances. From multiple White House sessions, working with music’s icons, and singing that Whitney Houston tribute following the legendary singer's death in 2012, Sheléa has a voice that soars and even sings in the podcast.
“Music has always been a huge part of who I am. I never thought this would be a career, it was literally just something I just did at church. They always told me I was very talented, but I never saw beyond that. It wasn't until I went to a little school in Huntsville, Alabama, called Oakwood University, and joined this girls group called Forgiven. We were almost like the Gospel version of Destiny's Child. That was my first taste of going into the studio and writing and producing. The bug got me. I was, like, this is what I want to do forever."
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Freeman, 36, earned the rank in five years and seven months on tenure track, he said. For most faculty, it takes 10 to 12 years to do so, with average age being 55.
Freeman, a frequent contributor to Diverse, graduated in 2011 from Auburn University with a degree in higher education administration. He worked at Tuskegee University as director in the Teaching and Learning Center before transitioning to the University of Idaho.
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Malkia Chitara Williams
March 5, 1997 - March 21, 2021
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Along with her parents, Dwayne Williams and Ellyne Walker Williams, we are heartbroken to share the news that Malkia Chitara Williams, '19, passed away in her sleep from having a seizure. Little did her mother know that the family's Facetime session with Malkia on March 20 would be the last. Malkia was in pursuit of completing her Masters in Psychology at the University of Central Florida (Orlando) and was specializing in Marriage and Family Counseling. She was scheduled to complete the program in December 2021.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Royal Funeral Home in Huntsville, where public viewing is scheduled for Saturday, April 10 - from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 11 - from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m.
Malkia will be buried near her paternal grandmother, Mrs. Minneola Dixon, at the Oakwood University Memorial Gardens Cemetery, where a graveside service is scheduled for Sunday, April 11, at 11:00 a.m. The service will be streamed.
In lieu of flowers, the family is collaborating with Oakwood's Office of Advancement, and the Department of Psychology, to create a fund in Malkia's name, to provide scholarships and group counseling support to students with any long-term medical condition, so they can receive group reassurance of the importance of being consistent with their medication(s).
Please keep the Williams family in your prayers during this time of bereavement.
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Mondays and Thursdays @ 8:30 a.m. CST
Join us at 8:30 a.m. CST(Central time) on Mondays and Thursdays on Morning Joy with Dawna Baker, for a special edition of "Inside Oakwood with Dr. Leslie Pollard." Programs are broadcast on Facebook Live, and you can also listen via our live stream at http://wjou.org. Catch up on past episodes of Inside Oakwood with Dr. Leslie Pollard:
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Huntsville to Rename Berachah Campus for
Oakwood Alumnus Dr. Robert Shurney
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One of Dr. Shurney's areas of responsibility at NASA was weightlessness training. He trained 90 percent of the program's early astronauts, and was also part of the Apollo Program.
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As one of the most important leaders in the history of manned space flight, Dr. Robert Shurney was a trailblazer in the African-American community. “Dr. Shurney was one of the first African Americans to work in the U.S. Space Program,” said Mayor Tommy Battle. “Despite the obstacles he faced, he had an incredible career and was instrumental in the development of the Saturn V rocket and design of the lunar rover.”
In January, 2021 the Huntsville City Council introduced a resolution renaming the Berachah Campus at 3011 Sparkman Drive in honor of late NASA engineer Dr. Robert Shurney. Huntsville is working to redevelop the Berachah Campus at 3011 Sparkman Drive, which will also be home to the new North Huntsville Public Library. The $9 million library is nearing completion, and the ribbon-cutting of the Dr. Robert Shurney Complex is scheduled for Wednesday, April 7, 2021, at 1:00 pm.
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Give back year-round to Oakwood University
while shopping online with AmazonSmile.
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The AmazonSmile Foundation will send OU .5% of eligible purchases when you choose Oakwood University.
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It's simple:
- You can use your current Amazon account.
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Just click https://smile.amazon.com.
- When prompted, select Oakwood University as your charitable organization, and then
- Shop as you normally do.
Donations are made by the AmazonSmile Foundation and are not tax deductible by you.
Your Oakwood University family thanks you for all you continue to do for our dear Oakwood.
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The Legacy Walkway, that leads from Ford Hall and Peters Media Center to the rest of the campus, is paved with bricks that can be personalized. Pave the way into the next 125 years of success by purchasing a brick on the Legacy Walkway.
The Legacy Walkway Brick Campaign provides an opportunity to leave a legacy and support campus improvement at the same time. Our Legacy Walkway features names of donors, loved ones, special remembrances, and favorite sayings. Bricks are a great opportunity to congratulate a recent graduate, celebrated degree or accomplishment, or honor your loved ones.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to leave more than a memory at Oakwood University. You can leave your own legacy as we continue our mission – to transform the lives of our students.
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Show OU Pride in Alabama! |
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When an Oakwood license plate is purchased from the Alabama Department of Motor Vehicles, in addition to the regular annual registration fee on a vehicle, the additional annual fee is donated to student scholarships at OU. This can be claimed as a charitable contribution to scholarships for students from Alabama (Section 32-6-156, Code of Alabama 1975).
There is the option of keeping the same expiration date as the plate being replaced, or beginning the Oakwood plate with a full year’s registration. Currently, this initiative is available only in Alabama.
Contact your local Alabama Department of Motor Vehicles office for more information.
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The mission of Oakwood University, a historically black, Seventh-day Adventist institution, is to transform students through biblically-based education for service to God and humanity.
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InsideOakwood is published by the Office of Integrated Marketing & Public Relations.
Editor: Debbe Millet | Photographer: Teymi Townsend
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