CSUN BAA Celebrates Legacy of Success

  • William Watkins and Shante Morgan Durisseau

    Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students William Watkins receives the Shining Star Award at the Black Alumni Association Scholarship and Awards Brunch held at CSUN's Orange Bistro Grove on Sept. 27. The inaugural event honored and showcased black alumni and the outstanding contributions they have made to CSUN. Photo by Victor Kamont.

  • Adewole Umoja, (center) one of he founders of the Department of Africana Studies at CSUN is applauded as he accepts his Legacy award. Photo by Victor Kamont.

  • Fluke Fluker, co-founder of The Village Nation, is applauded for his work with African American youth as he receives his Community Service award. Photo by Victor Kamont.

  • attendees at event

    Keynote speaker James Key, Carroll Brown ’13 (African American and Social Science), and Russell Rhodes and Barbara Rhodes, one of the Legacy Award honorees pose after the event. Photo by Victor Kamont.

  • PAS emeritus professor James Dennis M.A. ’77 (Political Science) thanks the BAA for honoring him with the Legacy Award. Dennis is one of the 16 original faculty members. Photo by Victor Kamont.

  • Honorees Charles and Andrea Humphrey

    Honorees Charles and Andrea Humphrey of H.O.P.E.'s House Christian Ministry accept the Community Service award from Shanté Morgan-Durisseau ’90, president of Black Alumni Association. Photo by Victor Kamont.

  • Bibliana Bovery

    Bibliana Bovery ’86 (Psychology) with her mother, a former employee of CSUN's Physical Plant Management. Photo by Victor Kamont.

  • BAA Executive Committee

    Members of the Black Alumni Executive Committee thank keynote speaker James Key. From Left: Gigi McGuire, Roxanne Jones, Shanté Morgan-Durisseau, James Key, Rashawn Green and Constance Vance. Photo by Victor Kamont.

Dozens of faculty, staff and students showed up for the California State University, Northridge Black Alumni Association’s inaugural awards and scholarship fundraiser on, Sept. 27, at the Orange Grove Bistro.

The event, “Celebrating a Legacy of Success: Linkages Beyond the Classroom,” recognized the contributions of CSUN alumni, faculty and staff of African descent.

“We must not forget our past,” said the Rev. James D. Key ’88 (Speech Communications), the keynote speaker and author of Tough and Go: From the Streets of South Central Los Angeles to the War in Iraq. Key, a major in U.S. Army in charge of the North East Chaplain Recruiting Team and a minister with a master’s from Princeton Theological Seminary and doctorate degree in ministry from Howard University School of Divinity, said CSUN helped to lay the foundation for his success.

“One of the toughest classes I ever had was in the Pan African Studies Department,” he said. He said the PAS Department faculty were tough but compassionate. Those honored were:

  • William Watkins ’74 (Urban Studies), CSUN vice president of student affairs and dean of students – Shining Star Award
  • Fluke Fluker ’88 (Kinesiology), co-founder of The Village Nation – Community Service Award
  • Charles Humphrey ’86 (Mechanical Engineering) and Andrea Humphrey ’88 (Economics), pastors of H.O.P.E.’s House of Christian Ministries – Community Service Award
  • CSUN Faculty, Founders of CSUN’s Department of Pan African Studies (now known as Africana Studies). Those faculty who attended the event included emeritus professor James Dennis, emeritus professor Barbara Rhodes and Adewole Umoja ’68 (History).

Sen. Holly Mitchell, chair of California’s Legislative Black Caucus, and Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch Englander were among the dignitaries to congratulate the honorees. CSUN President Dianne F. Harrison sent a letter of congratulations and helped to sponsor the event along with the CSUN Foundation. John Harris ’72 (Political Science), CSUN’s 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award winner also made a significant contribution to the organization’s scholarship fund.

“Since our chartering on Sept. 27, 2011, we have dedicated ourselves to connecting all those interested in promoting and supporting the needs of alumni, faculty, staff and students of African descent at CSUN,” said Shanté Morgan-Durisseau ’90  (Journalism/Afro-American Studies), president of the BAA. “We were able to reconnect alumni and faculty from across the decades.”

The chapter collected more than $200 in gift cards to donate to the Educational Opportunity Program’s Resilient Scholars program for emancipated foster youth. All monies raised will go towards the BAA’s scholarship fund.

For more information about the BAA, visit, csunalumni.com/baa.