The Black Alumni Organization (BAO) brings together Black alumni and allies to enable a thriving Black community at Occidental College and among Oxy Black alumni.
WHAT’S NEW
The history of the Oxy Gospel Choir is currently featured in the Summer 2024 issue of the Occidental Magazine, Precious Memories, written by H. Sheldon Wright and Dick Anderson. "Founded by students in 1971 the Occidental Gospel Choir made music for a quarter-century ---and a reunion of former members celebrates its nearly forgotten legacy." The Oxy Gospel Choir Reunion was held during Alumni Reunion Weekend on June 7, 2024.
To learn more about BAO, keep reading…
PURPOSE
We aim to create a robust network of Black alumni that embodies Occidental’s cornerstones of excellence, equity, community, and service. Follow us on
LinkedIn and Oxy.BAO Instagram.
BAO fosters excellence and community among current and future Black alumni of Occidental College. Through its events and initiatives, BAO serves as a resource to its members, Oxy students, faculty and administration in support of Black students of Occidental during their time on campus and beyond.
We collectively and individually aspire to:
- Support the academic and life success of Black students at Oxy
- Support the success of Black alumni in their careers and lives
- Encourage the engagement of Black alumni in the Occidental community
- Support the ability of Oxy to provide a high quality, multidisciplinary, multicultural education
INITIATIVES
- The BAO directory – Find us at Occidental College Black Alumni on LinkedIn.
- The growth of the Ubuntu Fund (formerly the African American and Underrepresented Student Success Fund [AAUSSF]) – You can make a donation to the fund here. Write “Ubuntu” or "AAUSSF" in the special instructions box. To learn more about the Ubuntu Fund read the Overview and the Strategic Plan.
- The Black Archive Project - You can contribute to the archive by reaching out the our archivists at archivebao@gmail.com.
- The Support of Black Students - If you are interested in participating in campus events with students, or mentoring a Black student, or if you are a Black student who would like a BAO mentor, please email us at blackalumniorg@oxy.edu.
- The Support of Black Faculty and key campus events, such as the Stafford Ellison Wright Scholar in Residence lecture.
ANNUAL EVENTS
We regularly host and promote events to build community. If you would like to join us in planning any of the events, or joining the BAO Leadership Team, email us at blackalumniorg@oxy.edu.To find out what we did in the past years, check out our Annual Reports here.
February
The Stafford Ellison Wright Lecture
The Stafford Ellison Wright Black Alumni Scholar-in-Residence honors Occidental’s first Black graduates and is made possible by the generous donations of our alumni. Join us on campus and hear from the year’s distinguished scholar.
March
Professional Development Panels/Workshops
When requested by another affinity group, student group, professor, or other member of the Oxy community, BAO, will co-create an event aimed at sharing Black alumni experience to benefit current students or recent alumni. These usually, but don’t have to, occur in March.
April
BAO's BBQ
We are bringing back the annual tradition of a BAO BBQ and experimenting with time and location. In 2024, we spent a wonderful Sunday afternoon at the Compton Cowboys and the Junior Equestrians Ranch. Stay tuned for details for the next BBQ. If you are interested in planning the BBQ, please email us at at blackalumniorg@oxy.edu.
May
Finals Fuel - Spring
This is a joint event between BAO, the Asian Pacific Islander (API) Association, and the Occidental College Latino Alumni Association (OCLAA) organizations. Jointly we supply snacks and words of encouragement for students during finals week at the Intercultural Community Center (ICC).
Black Graduation
Black Graduation honors Occidental Black graduates and acknowledges students’ accomplishments. Alumni are encouraged to attend and there is usually an alumni speaker.
June
Alumni Reunion Weekend: 50th and Milestone Reunions
We gather to celebrate the Black alumni from reunion classes and participate in Oxy reunion events. This is an opportunity to personally connect with BAO members who live outside the LA area.
Summer Gathering and BAO Organizational Meeting
Every summer we have a BAO organizational meeting to make important decisions about the organization and our annual activities.
August
Ph.D./Ed.D. Mutual Support Convening
This is an open “self-help” convening for Black alumni who are in the process of getting that capstone degree. They meet to help achieve their individual and communal needs. If you are a Black alumni who would like to join the convening, please email us at blackalumniorg@oxy.edu.
September
BAO College Prep Workshop
The Occidental College Black Alumni Organization (BAO) offers a virtual program for anyone who has or knows a Black student preparing to apply to college. The workshop, presented by the Occidental College Admission Office, is about the college admission process. It includes high school course selection, applications, and financial aid and answers individual specific questions. Participants do not need to apply to Oxy to attend this workshop.
Better Together: BAO’s Annual Academic Year Kick-off
Join Black alumni, students, faculty, and staff to welcome Black first year students to Oxy; connect with the whole Oxy Black community; and kick off an academic year of BAO activities. This is our hallmark event and is always meaningful and helpful.
Because of COVID precautions and zoom fatigue, our 2021 Better Together "event" was a series of very short Better Together Video Clips. The messages are still relevant today. Please take a few minutes to hear what was said in 2021 about community by clicking this link. To hear about post-COVID hopes, click this link. To hear comments about being Better Together click this link.
October
BAO Gathering during Homecoming
Return to campus and enjoy alumni and parents across all years – especially BAO members who live outside the LA area. Each year we have a BAO gathering of some sort. You are always welcome to join us for the Tiger Tailgate in the Academic Quad. We have reserved tables!
December
BAO’s Together for the Holidays
Every first Saturday of December, BAO gathers at the home of Dr. Greta Mandell ’72 P’92 and Peter Mandell in Altadena, CA. This BAO event is just for fun, relaxation and celebration of the calendar year. We do take a few minutes to introduce special guests, briefly explain BAO priorities and highlight coming Oxy events and toast the coming year. We also invite guests to bring a new, unwrapped gift for a child that will be donated to a culturally relevant organization.
Finals Fuel - Fall
This is a joint event between BAO, the Asian Pacific Islander (API) Alumni Association, and the Occidental College Latino Alumni Association (OCLAA) organizations. Jointly we supply snacks and words of encouragement for students during finals week at the Intercultural Community Center (ICC).
SPECIAL EVENTS
BAO STUDENT CHAMPION AWARD
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the first Black graduates of Occidental College (Dr. Janet Stafford, George F. Ellison, and Barbara Bowman-Wright), The Black Alumni Organization (BAO) created the BAO Student Champion Award. The award honors a current or former Oxy faculty or staff who had a significant impact on Black students’ success.
On October 22, 2022, Dr. Marguerite Archie-Hudson who was a superb mentor, leader of Upward Bound, and the first Black professional at Oxy was presented the award for the 1960’s by Brenda Shockley '68 H '19. Sheila Wills '69, former Admissions officer who was the architect for recruiting Black students in the 1970’s, was presented the award by Kenneth Farris '76. Dr. Arthé Anthony, former history professor who brought Black history to life in the 1980’s, was presented the award by Michael Whaley '84. Former President John Slaughter, Occidental College’s first Black president and architect of the multicultural mission of the College was presented the award for the 1990’s by Michael Moseby '97. Dr. Regina Freer, professor of politics, won the award for the 2000’s for her persistent support of Black students, Black organizations and leadership of 2 of the endowed funds central to the BAO purpose. She was presented by Ashley Ajayi '15. Dr. La Mont Terry '98 brought us up to the current decade winning the award for the 2010’s because of his unapologetically afro-centric instruction and dedication to the whole-person development of his students. He was presented the award by Linsdey Fuller Williams '10 M '11.
It was an inspirational honor to hear from, thank and celebrate these outstanding people during the Wisdom Across the Decades awards presentation that was part of the Homecoming 2022 weekend. You can still see and hear these 6 Black Student Champions, and their eloquent presenters here.
You can still honor all the Black Student Champions by making a contribution to the Ubuntu Fund (formerly known as the African American and Unrepresented Student Success Fund [AAUSSF]). The Ubuntu Fund is an endowed fund that supports the academic and life success of Black students at Occidental College.
You can donate to the African American Underrepresented Student Success Fund here. On the form, select the box labeled 'other' under designations. Then, write “Ubuntu” or “AAUSSF” in the 'special instructions' box below.
Your participation matters. Please donate what feels good to you in honor of the Black student champions. Donations to the AAUSSF are tax-deductible.
We thank everyone who participated in the inaugural year of the BAO Student Champion Award. We look forward to honoring the next award winners in 5 years - or so.
LEADERSHIP
Michael Moseby '97, Co-Convener
Kenneth Farris '76, Co-Convener
Dr. Alice Walker Duff '69, H'02, Immediate Past Co-Convener
Aaliyah Davis '17, Archivist
Louis Hook '80, P'12
Jackie Provost '02
Mikayla Woods '25