Alumni Return for Coming Together Weekend and Celebrate the Justin and Darrianne Christian Center for Diversity and Inclusion

Alumni returned to campus to share advice with students, enjoy fellowship, and celebrate the construction of the Justin and Darrianne Christian Center for Diversity and Inclusion during Coming Together Weekend, May 5 - 7.

Coming Together is a tradition dating to 1990 that unites and strengthens community among alumni, students, faculty and staff of color.  The theme of this year’s event was “Bridging the Past, Cultivating the Future.”

Building on this theme, Tamika Ragland Nordstrom, Esq. ’93 offered a May 6 keynote address that related the challenges and opportunities of her own DePauw experience to what alumni can do today to engage in the life of the University.  Nordstrom, a Partner at Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete LLP in Atlanta, said, “The best we can do is to make a conscious effort to take actions that leave our colleagues, family and friends in a better position than we found them.  That can involve providing information, access, financial support, time or simply a shoulder to lean on in times of crisis.  We are the most valuable resource that this university has – let’s act like we know it and let our contributions speak for themselves.”

Nordstrom placed particular emphasis on the value of being a mentor to young people.  She said, “One of the most rewarding things I have been able to do in my life and career is to be a mentor to others. Everyone here has the ability to change someone’s life for the better.”  

Following Nordstrom’s message, alumni had the opportunity to connect with and advise students during a networking presentation and exercise led by Vice President for Student Academic Life Alan Hill ’81 and Jay Bennett ’91, Vice President for Human Resources at Sikorsky Aircraft.  Following some tips from Hill and Bennett, students and alumni circulated in introducing themselves, exchanging contact information, and discussing career and personal goals.

A highlight of the weekend was a ceremony celebrating construction of the Justin and Darrianne Christian Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI), made possible by a substantial gift from Justin ’95 and Darrianne Howard Christian ’95. Scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2017, the 10,000-square-foot-facility is located across Hanna Street from the Richard E. Peeler Art Center and will include an Association for African American Students (AAAS) House and the Dorothy Brown Cultural Resource Center.

In recognizing the significant philanthropy of Justin and Darrianne Christian, President Mark McCoy said, “DePauw is deeply grateful for the generosity of Justin and Darrianne Christian. Today’s celebration is the result of nearly two years of strategic discussion with this amazing DePauw couple.  Their vision for an improved AAAS House blossomed into the Center we build today thanks to their support of the University’s strategic Vision for Diversity and Inclusion.”

Speaking on the importance of the CDI, Justin Christian shared a story on the life and acclaim of Percy L. Julian ‘20.  Christian said, “I envision the stories like this being retold to future generations through the Center so that they too can have pride in ownership. Stories of Bing Davis, Vernon Jordan, Pharez Whitted, Shatrese Flowers, and Jon Fortt motivating future generations to push through obstacles and recognize the strength in our differences.   These are our very own American heroes with whom we share a special connection.”  

Dean of Students Myrna Hernandez called the Center, “a place for students of color and others on the margins, to gather in community and find support in the difficult moments. A meeting place where we can celebrate our identity and affinity groups and help them develop their leadership and programming skills. Somewhere to go when things go wrong, and hopefully, far more frequently, a place to celebrate our successes and triumphs; a home for our alumni and families to return to and meaningfully engage with our students.”

Following the ceremony, Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement Melanie Norton led community members in leaving signatures on a beam that will be part of the structure of the Center.

Alumni and students gathered for a dinner banquet featuring presentations of the Old Gold Globes awards selected by members of the Coming Together Weekend alumni, student and staff planning committee.  The awards were given to an outstanding student, alumnus, administrator and faculty member.  Recipients were Yesenia Silva ’17, Jordan Davis ’14, Alan Hill ’81 and Professor of Religious Studies Leslie James.       

The day culminated in a musical celebration with concerts by the DePauw Gospel Choir and by Pharez Whitted ’82 and band.  An accomplished musician and jazz director of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO), Whitted was named one of six “Chicagoans of the Year” by The Chicago Tribune in 2016.