Washington and Lee University related articles

African Americans and Rhodes Scholarships

Typically the Rhodes Trust does not reveal the race or ethnicity of scholarship winners. Of this year’s 32 Rhodes Scholars from the United States, it appears that four are African Americans.

Nov 23, 2022 | 1 comment View Post

Washington and Lee University Adds Four Black Assistant Professors to Its Faculty

Washington and Lee University, the highly rated liberal arts educational institution in Lexington, Virginia, has appointed four African Americans to assistant professor positions: Christopher Brown in anthropology, K. Avvirin Gray in English, Jimmie Johnson in physical education, and Ehi Rajsky in accounting.

Nov 04, 2022 | 0 comments View Post

Four Black Scholars Who Are Taking on New Faculty Assignments

Taking on new faculty duties are Anita Plummer at Howard University in Washington, D.C., Fiemu Nwariaku at the University of Utah School of Medicine, Maxine Montgomery at Florida State University, and Michael Hill at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.

Apr 29, 2022 | 0 comments View Post

Three African American Scholars With New Faculty Assignments

Seretha Williams was appointed chair of the department of English and world languages at Augusta University in Georgia. Randle Pollard will teach at the law school at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, and Robert Linton, II has been selected as chief medical officer at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Jan 28, 2022 | 0 comments View Post

Three Universities Announce the Appointments of African American Diversity Officers

Carl Hampton is the chief diversity officer at Governor State University in Illinois. Kristie A. Ford was named associate provost for diversity, equity, and inclusion at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, and Michael States was named associate dean of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Oct 22, 2021 | 0 comments View Post

New Center Named for the Founder of Africana Studies at Washington and Lee University

Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, will name a new interdisciplinary academic center for teaching and research on Southern race relations, culture, and politics in honor of late professor of history emeritus Theodore “Ted” Carter DeLaney Jr.

Aug 24, 2021 | 0 comments View Post

In Memoriam: Theodore Carter DeLaney Jr., 1943-2020

In 1963, Theodore Carter DeLaney Jr. was hired as a janitor at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. He became a full-time student in 1983. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history in 1985 at the age of 42. After earning a Ph.D., in 1995, he joined the faculty at the university.

Dec 29, 2020 | 3 comments View Post

Lena Hill Will Be the Next Provost at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia

Dr. Hill currently serves as dean of the College and professor of English and Africana studies at the university. Prior to joining Washington and Lee, Hill was associate vice president and interim chief diversity officer at the University of Iowa, where she was an associate professor of English and African American studies.

Nov 23, 2020 | 0 comments View Post

Black Man to Become Dean of the Nation’s Oldest Law School

A. Benjamin Spencer will be the next dean of the William and Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia. When he takes office on July 1, Professor Spencer will be William & Mary’s first African-American dean. Since 2014 he has been on the law school faculty at the University of Virginia.

Jun 01, 2020 | 0 comments View Post

Law Students Ask That the Image of Robert E. Lee Not Appear on Their Diplomas

Students, alumni, and faculty members of the Washington and Lee University School of Law have started a petition asking the university’s administration to give graduating students the option of not having the images of George Washington and Robert E. Lee on their diplomas.

Dec 31, 2019 | 1 comment View Post

Sean Seymore Appointed to an Endowed Chair at Vanderbilt University

Professor Seymore’s research focuses on how patent law should evolve in response to scientific advances and how the intersection of law and science should influence the formulation of public policy.

Sep 30, 2019 | 1 comment View Post

Washington and Lee University Removes Slaveholder’s Name From Building

Upon his death, John Robinson left his estate, farm, and 73 slaves to what is now Washington and Lee University. In 1836, the college sold the slaves and used the money to build Robinson Hall. Now the university is removing Robinson’s name from the building which will now honor the school’s first Black student.

Nov 20, 2018 | 0 comments View Post

Washington and Lee University President Rejects Plans to Convert Lee Chapel Into a Museum

An advisory panel of faculty, staff, alumni, and students suggested that Lee Chapel should be converted into a museum and key campus events should no longer be held there. Robert E. Lee and his family are buried underneath the chapel.

Sep 18, 2018 | 2 comments View Post

Commission Examines History of Washington & Lee University and Makes Recommendations

First and foremost, the commission recommended that the name of the university not be changed despite the fact that George Washington was a slave owner and Robert E. Lee was a slave owner and led the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

May 22, 2018 | 0 comments View Post

Daniel A. Wubah Will Be the Next President of Millersville University in Pennsylvania

Dr. Wubah, a native of Ghana, is a professor of biology at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. He served as provost at Washington and Lee University from 2013 to 2016. Earlier, Dr. Wubah was deputy provost at Virginia Tech.

Apr 16, 2018 | 8 comments View Post

Lena Hill Appointed Dean of the College at Washington and Lee University

Currently, Dr. Hill is senior associate to the president, interim chief diversity officer, and associate vice president at the University of Iowa. She joined the faculty at the University of Iowa in 2006 with a joint appointment in the departments of English and African American studies.

Apr 16, 2018 | 0 comments View Post

Washington and Lee University Recognizes Its Ties to Slavery

In 1826, a local landowner bequeathed 84 slaves to what was then Washington College. For at least 30 years the college owned slaves. Recently, a historical marker was unveiled on campus listing the names of all the slaves that were owned by the college.

Apr 19, 2016 | 0 comments View Post

Three Black Scholars Take on New Teaching Assignments

Llewellyn J. Cornelius was appointed to a named professorship at the University of Georgia School of Social Work. Elicia Cowins is a new assistant professor of accounting at Washington and Lee University in Virginia and Jimmie Witt has joined the faculty at Lewis and Clark Community College in Illinois.

Sep 25, 2015 | 0 comments View Post

Washington and Lee University Black Law Students Win Mock Trial Competition

The team from Washington and Lee University School of Law in Lexington, Virginia, competed against 18 teams in the finals competition held in Portland, Oregon. It was the only undefeated team in the three-day competition.

Apr 10, 2015 | 1 comment View Post

Washington and Lee University Decides to Stop Holding Classes on MLK Day

The issue of the holiday honoring Dr. King is of particular significance to Washington and Lee University. General Robert E. Lee’s tomb is located in a chapel on campus. Before the Civil War, the university had owned between 70 and 80 Black slaves.

Jan 12, 2015 | 3 comments View Post

Washington and Lee University Addresses Its Past Ties to Slavery and the Confederacy

Kenneth P. Ruscio, president of Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, has issued a response to student demands that the university take actions to address its past.

Jul 14, 2014 | 1 comment View Post

Three Black Faculty Members Taking on New Roles

Lucas Morel was named to an endowed chair at Washington and Lee University. T. Elon Dancy II was promoted to associate professor and granted tenure at the University of Oklahoma and Maurice Jackson of Georgetown University was named chair of a government commission.

Jul 19, 2013 | 1 comment View Post