President inducted into Rutgers African-American Alumni Alliance Hall of Fame
NEW BRUNSWICK — President Jonathan Holloway enjoyed a rapturous welcome at the 18th Annual Hall of Fame Ceremony hosted by the Rutgers African-American Alumni Alliance (RAAA), Inc. Holloway noted that the welcome left him “worked up” and that the insight he wanted to share was that the people he saw in the room “bear witness to the possibilities of this community.” He told the community, “I see you.”
“All of you, with your very different stories… all have done the exceptional in spite of the fact that people could not imagine you…”
Since it began in 2004, the RAAA Hall of Fame has honored more than 100 alumni, celebrating and honoring the accomplishments of Rutgers University graduates who have distinguished themselves through contributions they have made to the community, to the University or in their fields of endeavor; by the leadership they have exhibited; and by the general benefits to the larger society resulting from their efforts. The ceremony also provides our students a glimpse of the endless possibilities their futures hold and it affords them the opportunity to network and connect with their extended family, namely Rutgers Alumni.
A number of the inductees noted how they were still firmly tied to the university and if anyone asked them, given the choice again, would they choose differently, they would say no. Inductees such as Otis Rolley III (now at the Rockefeller Foundation), Anton Lendor (lawyer and developer), Maurice Russell Grey (real estate developer) and Claudia Schrader (President of Kingsborough Community College), noted how the community outside the classroom was just as important in being able to successfully complete their undergraduate degree and how many of those friendships have endured the test of time. Just as important were family members, as noted by Julienne Cherry, Natasha Hemmings, Leah Hollis, and several others.
RAAA, Inc. summed up the classes of 2020 and 2021 by the numbers…
1 theater producer/director/Professor with global impact
2 literally (re)building communities
3 college presidents
3 who are tirelessly working to support and strengthen families
3 for wealth & capacity building
4 making medicine and public health responsive to the needs of everyone & fostering key research
4 who are transforming how we interact with each other and build equity into all we do
20 amazing Rutgers University alumni and community members
This year’s theme was “And It Shall Take A Village,” and a portion of the proceeds benefit various RAAA supported initiatives through the Rutgers University Foundation, including the Paul Robeson Scholarship Fund and the annual Rites of Passage Scholarships supporting graduating Rutgers students admitted to Rutgers graduate programs.
***********************
The 2021 Hall of Fame was supported by Legacy Sponsor, The Rockefeller Foundation and Premier Sponsor, The Rutgers University Alumni Association.
The full sponsor list…
The Rockefeller Foundation – Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President
Rutgers University Alumni Association – Josh Harraman and Roberta O’Hara
Dr. Nancy Cantor—Chancellor, Rutgers Newark
Dr. Anna Branch SVP – Division of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement
The Rutgers Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development – Dr. Jeffrey Robinson, Academic Director
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
Maurice Russell Grey – HOF 2021
School of Engineering/M.E.E.T. – Dean Ilene Rosen
Theatre Communication Group – Adrian Budhu
Mack Bright Creations – Simone Mack-Bright
