2011 Black Student Association Awards Ball Celebrating 50 Years of African African Achievement

Alvin Crawford, MD The first African American to be admitted to and graduate in 1964 from the UT College of Medicine. He is a native Memphian and alumnus of Melrose H.S.

Earline Houston, MD In Memoriam The first African American female to graduate from the UT College of Medicine in She was a native Memphian and an alumnus of Manassas H.S.

William F. Owen Jr., MD In 2005 appointed as the first African American Chancellor at UT Health Science Center and within the University of Tennessee System.

Noma Anderson, PhD In March 2005, Dr. Anderson was appointed Dean in the College of Allied Health Science. She is the first African American to hold the title of Dean at UTHSC.

Kennard Brown, JD, MPA, PhD He earned his PhD in health policy at UTHSC in In 2008, Dr. Brown was appointed Executive Vice Chancellor for UTHSC and he is the first African American to hold this executive leadership position.

Veronica Mallett, MD In August 2005, Dr. Mallett was appointed as Chair, OB/GYN in the College of Medicine. She was the first female and African American to have this appointment at UTHSC.

Todd Robinson, MD, PhD Dr. Robinson is a 1992 alumnus of UTHSC and he also the first African American to obtain both the MD and PhD. He also holds a faculty appointment in Preventive Medicine at UTHSC.

Beverly J. Williams-Cleaves, MD, BS The 2 nd African American female to graduate from UT College of Medicine in She is also an Associate Professor in Medicine- Endocrinology in the College of Medicine.

Todd Smith, DDS First African American valedictorian in the College of Dentistry (COD) in 2007, and currently serves as an instructor in COD while also working in private practice.

Wisdom Coleman, DDS, MPHA In Memoriam In 1997, Dr. Coleman was appointed as the first African American Associate Dean in the College of Dentistry. His total years of employee service with UTHSC was 39 years.

Jesse McClure, PhD In Memoriam Appointed as UTHSC’s first male African American to serve in the campus leadership position of Vice Chancellor for University Relations in September 1990.

Mona Wicks, PhD, RN Appointed as the first African American Associate Dean for Research in the College of Nursing (CON) in 2007.

Eldridge Johnson, PhD Has given 39 years of service as a member of the faculty in College of Medicine. He also played a critical role in 1980 and beyond for UTHSC with health career programs targeting African Americans.

Isaac O. Donkor, PhD In 2008, Dr. Donkor was appointed as the first Associate Dean for Health Career Programs in the College of Graduate Health Sciences.

Lue Ida Walls-Upchurch Serves as the chief of campus police and the director of Parking Authority Since She is also the first female African-American to hold this position in the UT System.

Bobby Thomas, MPA First African American Assistant Dean for Administration in the College of Pharmacy.

Chandra West-Alston, MBA, CAP In 2008, Chandra West-Alston was appointed as the first Assistant Dean for Administration in the College of Allied Health Sciences.

Celebration Luncheon May 28, 2011 Noon Luncheon -SAC Center Lounge Speaker: Todd Robinson, MD, PhD Cost: free to new graduates and family and UTHSC faculty alumni. Free event for faculty, staff, alumni and the public but you must RSVP with the Office of Equity and Diversity.

Wine Down Reception September 16, 2011 Soulsville/Stax Museum Cost is $20 per ticket for UTHSC faculty staff, alumni and public, and $15 for UTHSC students.

Diversity Day African American college student recruitment program that will take place November 12, 2011 on the UTHSC campus. For additional information call or hsc-

Message from the Chancellor “UTHSC has demonstrated a consistent commitment to diversity since the desegregation of the Health Science Center and the Geier Consent Decree. We continue to be progressive in supporting equal opportunities for African-Americans to succeed in all areas of our institution – from student enrollment and retention, to hiring and retention of faculty and staff.” Chancellor Steve Schwab, MD