Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Texas Southern University celebrated its 96th Founders’ Day with the annual Founders’ Day Convocation. Hundreds of students, as well as faculty, staff and alumni were greeted by Interim President Dr. Mary E. Sias.
“Our esteemed institution was born on September 14, 1927 to provide an opportunity for African-Americans to receive college training,” Dr. Sias said. “It was called the Colored Junior College. 300 students enrolled that summer. Many of them were teachers who had to leave school in the fall to return to their jobs when the school year began. 96 years and three name changes later we’ve grown to nearly 9,000 students today. 96 years of excellence in achievement. 96 years of commitment to serving our community. We have every reason to be TSU Proud.”
This year’s keynote speaker was TSU alumna Dr. Alicia Hughes. Dr. Hughes earned her B.S. in Biology from TSU in 1996. Dr. Hughes is the inaugural Executive Director of Emory University’s Center for Civil Rights and Social Justice and a Visiting Assistant Professor of Practice at the Emory University School of Law.
“To our students, especially, I want you to know that this address is one that is extremely personal to me because you’re personal to me,” she said. “It is impossible to look at you and not see me.”
Dr. Hughes encouraged the students to be the architect of their own education and the curator of their own life story.
“Anything and everything that I’ve become in my adult life is as a result of things that started right here on this campus and I’ll always be grateful for that,” she said. “I didn’t wait for someone to provide opportunities for me at TSU. I sought opportunities and they were given to me while I was here. That is me telling you to be the architect of your own education. And do not let someone tell you your history.”
The Convocation also featured performances by the acclaimed TSU Debate Team and the TSU Choir.
To view photos from the Founders' Day Convocation, click here.
Category: News Media, Faculty & Staff, Alumni, Students