Dillard University Outreach Update

Written By Akilah Northern

This week was all about logistics for The HistoryMakers Digital Archive Black History Month Contest.

Fellow ambassador Felicia Hart and I met with Dr. Mustiful from Psychology who is one of our contest judges. We debriefed her on her role as a judge and the structure of our contest. During this meeting we decided that a grading rubric for the judges would be helpful so that each poem will be evaluated by the same criteria. Dr. Mustiful also suggested Dr. Mona Lisa Saloy, Dillard University English Professor and Louisiana State Poet Laureate to serve as our third judge.

Based on that successful meeting I began to work on a rubric for grading the poems. I am still in the process of drafting it so that it is clear and helpful to our judges. I wanted to include the major points that we need students to pay attention to.

I also contacted Dr. Saloy and she is excited about being a part of the program. We are still working out her exact role as she may be too busy to be a judge, but we are looking forward to incorporating her in some way.

I spoke to Mr. Jon Pult, another English professor, who is also excited about the archive and the contest. In the future I’m looking to present for his classes as well as have him circulate the flyer to the English club

Speaking of the flyer: I spoke to Beth Smith about edits and the final flyer should be completed in a day or two. I sent a draft of the flyer to Dr. Kimberly Moorehead who is over The Thompson Cook Honors Program. She said she will send out contest information to the honors student body soon and may have a spot open for me to speak at the first year students’ convocation.

I also spoke to Dr. Eva Baham who is another judge and she said she is looking forward to being a part of our contest.

Finally I began to enter the event into our student events database so that students can see the event when they log in. Because Felicia and I met with Dr. Courtney Williams already, Student Engagement and Leadership are already debriefed about the contest.

Although this week was mainly logistics, I did receive a box of promotional materials which I am excited to give out to raise students’ awareness about what we are doing for The HistoryMakers.

Akilah Northern

Akilah G. Northern (she/her) is a third year student at Dillard University. She is pursuing her Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. Originating from Nashville, Tennessee, an influential civil rights city, has deepened her love for Black history and culture. And her rich family history of Black excellence has grown her love for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Akilah is inspired by poet, writer, and activist Audre Lorde and her work in womanist thought and literature. She loves to support small Black businesses and learn about Southern Black tradition! She is passionate about advocating for underrepresented groups and promotes cultural awareness through her involvement in In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda. Furthermore, on campus, she is involved in Dillard Collegiate DECA and the Melton Foundation Global Fellowship. She is excited to be a HistoryMakers Ambassador and help spread Black history through modern oral tradition.

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