Office of African American Affairs:

Where the support occurs.

Since its inception, the Office of African American Affairs has provided a wide range of resources to students. These services and resources included academic and social supports and cultural enrichment and were provided in several locations throughout Dawson’s Row. These locations continue to function to this day.

The main house, Luther P. Jackson House, is the administrative hub of African American Affairs. There you will find several support staff and other services vital to students. For instance, in Dawson’s Row #4 there is:

• a computer lab,
• a library,
• office support personnel,
• Angela Comfort, the Office Manager and Program Coordinator,
• Associate Dean Patrice Grimes and Grad Star,
• Project RISE,
• And finally, Maurice Apprey, Dean of OAAA.

Dawson’s Row #3 is the location of the Luther Porter Jackson Black Cultural Center. The office of the Director of the BCC, Assistant Dean Michael Gerard Mason, is located within this building. There is also a conference space and sitting area where students are able to study, organize, or simply commune together. The Black Cultural Center contains several artifacts donated by the family of Luther Porter Jackson.  These items are on display throughout the conference area.

W.E.B. Du Bois Center is housed in Dawson’s Row #2. Here you will find the Director of the Peer Advisor Program, Associate Dean Kimberley Bassett. The Peer Advisor Program operations take place throughout the center. At the front of W.E.B. Du Bois center, is a single room dedicated the student support personnel.

These facilities have been used by OAAA for nearly 40 years; however, Dawson’s row is linked indelibly to the unique history of the University.  Each building has its own history that is worth exploration.