Jackson State University is the first HBCU to host the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Undergraduate Fellows Program Dungy Leadership Institute (DLI). The NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program is a noted initiative that develops future student affairs professionals through mentorship, networking, and professional development.
From June 23 to June 28, the university hosted 30 students from various parts of the country. JSU Dean of Students Laquala Dixon, Ph.D., a long-time member of NASPA and JSU alum, championed the efforts to make Jackson State the first HBCU to host the institute.
Dixon worked with NASPA Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and Early Career Initiatives Ke’Ana Bradley, Ph.D., on the planning team to ensure the fellows had an enlightening experience.
“With this being the first HBCU experience, it’s been amazing,” said Dixon. “I learned that the institute had never been hosted at an HBCU, and as a result, I thought it was a great time, with JSU being one of the premiere HBCUs in the country, for us to bring it to our campus. I’m a very proud alum and professional of this university.”
The DLI is held annually on various college campuses and offers the fellows a unique opportunity to network with their peers and current student affairs administrators serving as institute faculty like JSU Vice President of Student Affairs Fran’Cee Brown-McClure, Ph.D.
“Part of the reason I’m in student affairs is because of the student affairs professionals at Jackson State University,” explained Brown-McClure. “As student affairs professionals, it’s important that we’re continuing to train and pour into the next generation of folks who will come in and do this work.”
The fellows received an in-depth leadership development experience to prepare them for graduate work in student affairs and higher education. This was their first experience in Mississippi and at an HBCU for many participants.
“It’s a beautiful campus with a lot of rich history, even with historical markers on the campus,” said Bradley, “I think it helped to debunk some myths about not just HBCUs, but southern culture.”
Most of the fellows had not attended an HBCU, so the planning team hoped their time at JSU would give them a broader perspective of the south and minority institutions.
“I think they can now see themselves working somewhere with such a rich culture and understanding the responsibility that comes with that,” Bradley shared.
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