Black Alumni Network - Advancement

BLACK ALUMNI NETWORK

UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER

BLACK ALUMNI NETWORK

UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER

The Black Alumni Network is an inclusive leadership organization that seeks to empower, connect, and celebrate the University of Rochester Black Community. This group encourages communication and cooperation between alumni, students, friends, faculty, and staff who are committed to the advancement of people of the African diaspora. The Black Alumni Network fosters a network for personal and professional connection and provides a sense of community and family for alumni of color.

2022 Juneteenth Celebration

For Us, By Us: A Celebration of Us

This June, join the Black Alumni Network to honor the excellence, diversity, and unity of the peoples of the African diaspora. As we stand unified in our pursuit of freedom and inclusion, come celebrate the tenacity, ingenuity, and distinction of Black people in America and around the world.

Explore the programs

“Why I Give”

This August, the University of Rochester’s Black Alumni Network presents the “Why I Give” series in celebration of Black Philanthropy Month. This series will honor and showcase Black alumni philanthropists and the inspiring stories behind why they give.

Dr. Gina Cuyler ’92M (MD), ’95M (Res)

Mario Simpson ’99

Meet the donors

Meet the Black Alumni Network leaders

Ashley Campbell ’09, ’10 (MS)
Rochester, NY
National Co-Chair

Gina Cuyler ’92M (MD), ’95M (Res)
Rochester, NY
National Co-Chair

Emerson Fullwood
Rochester, NY
National Co-Chair

Meet the leaders

Family, we can do this together.

We build a sense of community and belonging as extended family members of the African diaspora. With your support, we can:

Cultivate opportunities for Black alumni to authentically connect to each other, current students, and the University
Identify and foster opportunities that celebrate and preserve the University’s history of Black achievements
Promote Black alumni, students, faculty, and staff in the spirit of inclusive excellence
Leverage partnerships and resources to recruit, retain, mentor, and support fundraising efforts of Black students
Provide educational programs and resources relevant to the Black experience that foster a framework in which Black alumni and students can thrive

What we can do, together.

We invite you to take an even more active role in our community. Together, we can do more, change more, and inspire more. With your support, we can channel our collective philanthropic resources to advocate for the causes that matter to us the most, from student support to career and leadership development to innovation across academic disciplines and beyond.

Learn more

Stories from the Boardroom: Experiences of our Black Leaders

In celebration of the Black Alumni Network’s first anniversary, a distinguished panel of Black members of the University of Rochester’s Board of Trustees hosted this special event to share their career paths, their commitment to serving the University, and their perspectives on efforts to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion in higher education and in their professional work.

Upcoming events

Please email Amari Tevell Simpson at amari.simpson@rochester.edu for upcoming events and details at this time.

Upcoming events

July 17

ENGAGEMENTUbuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence

ENGAGEMENTKota Ezawa: National Anthem

ENGAGEMENTCelebration of Diversity

5:30-8 p.m. ET

Event address provided upon registration

See event details

Black Alumni Network webinar library

These videos exemplify the values of the volunteer-led Black Alumni Network. The Network unites the University of Rochester’s Black community through engaging and empowering programming and conversations.

Watch now

Spotlight stories

Board elects five members, honors six life trustees

Newly elected trustees and life trustees ‘pave the way for the next generation of leaders.’

‘Cracking the World Open’

Alexandria Brown ’18 says environmental humanities pointed her toward life as a journalist and environmental justice advocate.

Jazz Music Is Protest Music

For jazz composer and trumpeter Nabaté Isles ’99E, jazz is inseparable from the history and culture of the people who invented it.

Volunteer

You can help us build the Black Alumni Network. As one of our founding members, there are many ways for you to be a part of this effort. To join and volunteer for the Black Alumni Network, please tell us about yourself.

Volunteer

Connect

Find us on Facebook
Network with other alumni and students on The Meliora Collective
Subscribe to Encompass – an e-newsletter presented by the Office of Equity and Inclusion. View the archive of Encompass here.
For more information on our Diversity and Inclusion programming, visit this page.
Join the Black Alumni Network directory to maintain, enrich, and expand your connections with other Network members, as well as take part in mentoring and networking opportunities. University of Rochester students, staff, faculty, and family members are welcome to join.

Photo Gallery

Through new events and activities, such as networking with students, celebrating at Meliora Weekend, and conversations around Juneteenth, the Black Alumni Network has grown its membership, involvement, and awareness.

View photos

Contact Us

For more information on the Black Alumni Network and additional identity-based programs and events, contact Ghislaine Radegonde-Eison, director of affinity networks and equity, diversity and inclusion programs at ghislaineradegonde-eison@rochester.edu.

Ghislaine Radegonde-Eison ’10W (MS), ’17W (EdD) joined the Alumni Relations and Constituent Engagement team in October 2021 as the Director of Affinity Networks and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Programs. Ghislaine brings 20 years of University of Rochester program management expertise, extensive knowledge, and advocacy work in creating equity, diversity, and inclusion programs featuring notable scholars, along with her experience as a Staff Equity Officers Foundational (SEOF) appointee, a co-founder of the Women of Color Circle, and member of the Black Alumni Network and the Women’s Affinity Network. Ghislaine is trilingual (French & Italian) and as a former adjunct French professor with the Department of Modern Languages & Cultures at the University, she has shared her work on cultural competencies with the University community both formally and informally. When Ghislaine is not working she enjoys serving the community through her volunteer work with Garth Fagan Dance Company and Big Brothers Big Sisters. She values interactions and believes that networking is an important part of building strong relationships.

2022 Juneteenth Celebration

“Why I Give”

Meet the Black Alumni Network leaders

Family, we can do this together.

What we can do, together.

Stories from the Boardroom: Experiences of our Black Leaders

Upcoming events

Upcoming events

Black Alumni Network webinar library

Spotlight stories

Board elects five members, honors six life trustees

‘Cracking the World Open’

Jazz Music Is Protest Music

Volunteer

Connect

Photo Gallery

Contact Us

Contact

Explore

Helpful links