Alumni know that the community you build as part of The Catholic University of America is unparalleled. Our black alumni, students, faculty, and staff certainly recognized that as they gathered on campus on Feb. 26 for the Building Bridges Reception, an event hosted by the Advancement team to honor Black alumni, build community among Black alumni and students, and inspire greater connection between alumni and current Catholic University initiatives.
The event featured a keynote address by Dr. Victor McCrary, B.A. 1978, Catholic University’s Vice Provost for National Security Innovation. McCrary shared his journey to Catholic University as a student back in the 1970’s and now as a member of the University’s leadership. He highlighted the people and connections that brought him here both times and encouraged alumni and students to become those connections for each other as they progress through their education and careers.
“How can you help somebody? Even if you’re a student, whether it’s a reference, pointing them to an internship, or helping them with a class,” McCrary said. “Our alumni community is extremely powerful. We need to expand that and bring that in.”
For McCrary, Catholic University’s relationship-building, networking, and mentorship are linked to our University motto and Catholic mission.
“When [building bridges] is working well in a university environment, we all see ourselves working for a greater purpose than the units that we’re working in,” McCary said.
Also during the event, several black alumni were recognized, including Sister Thea Bowman, F.S.P.A., M.A. 1969, Ph.D. 1972. Serena Tewoldeberhan, a current senior and president of Catholic University’s student chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) spoke about a new mentorship program in partnership between NSBE and the Black Alumni Network (BAN). Through the program, students receive one-on-one mentorship with alumni and attend professional development sessions. Assistant professor of Education Chy McGhee then spoke about the Africana Studies program, its history, and its benefits for the Catholic University community.
Nearly 100 people came out for this event to close out February and Black History Month – and bridges were certainly built that will hopefully last for many more years, with great impact.
