The JHU Black Faculty and Staff Association has announced the selection of Ethan Bartlett, James Hildreth, Regine Laforest-Sharif, Lorraine Smith, and Phyllis Prettyman, along with the Johns Hopkins Dining Program staff, as the 2023 inductees to be included in the Indispensable Role of Blacks at JHU project.
The Indispensable Role of Blacks (IRB) is a digital project co-sponsored by the Johns Hopkins Black Faculty and Staff Association, the Office of the President, and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The project recognizes the Black students, faculty, and staff who have contributed to the university's rich history and who have brought honor to Johns Hopkins through their achievements. The project is co-chaired by Anita Norton, Cynthia York, and Sharon Morris.
The 2023 class is composed of a current activist student noted for his leadership skills and advocacy for change (Bartlett), a trailblazing immunologist with deep ties to Hopkins who is now president and CEO of Meharry Medical College (Hildreth), a beloved former associate director of Housing noted for her guidance and impactful mentorship of students over the year (Laforest-Sharif), a former Black Faculty and Staff Association president whose voice and guidance during the turbulence of 2020 were essential to the university (Smith), and Phyllis Prettyman along with the entire Dining Program staff whose humanistic and outstanding customer service has not escaped the notice of JHU students. Detailed profiles of the honorees will be available in May on the BFSA website. The induction ceremony and recognition of all inductees will be held on June 19.
Profiles of all previous inductees can be found on the BFSA website.
To nominate individuals for the next class, use the Indispensable Role of Blacks at JHU nomination form. Nominations are open through October.
