Duquesne University’s Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Advisor to the President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Crystal McCormick Ware, will host an event celebrating Juneteenth on Monday, June 19, 2023, from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Gumberg Library, 5th floor, in flex spaces 1 & 2. 

The event is open to the entire Duquesne University community, as well as the general public. Light refreshments will be served.

In-person capacity is limited. RSVP here for the in-person event.

The event will also be livestreamed here.

About the Featured Speaker

Dr. Johnathan JeVon White is an Associate Teaching Professor at Penn State University Greater Allegheny. He has taught courses in history, African American studies and leadership development. His Juneteenth presentation is titled: “The Thirst – Juneteenth and the Existential Quest for Freedom.”

Dr. White was born in Norfolk, VA. He graduated from Clark Atlanta University with a B.A. in Political Science and earned his doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh, specializing in modern U.S. and African American history. His dissertation examined black jazz musicians in Pittsburgh before and after integration, and how collective memory re-imagines the past. He co-founded the Study of Hip-Hop Conference and the Stewart and Jones Scholar Leadership Program.

Dr. White is a founding member of the Crossing Bridges committee which serves the surrounding community. In addition, he chairs the Anti-Racism task force at PSUGA. He is also creator of the Black Woman Reaffirmed video project. His upcoming album, Love Algorithms, is an eclectic mix of poetry, hip-hop, and spoken word. Finally, he is co-authoring a book, A Love We Need…, which examines what a divided America can learn from 50 years of Hip Hop culture.

He is a board member of the Langston Hughes Poetry Society. In addition, he served as lead instructor of the Full Armor Institute, mentoring young black men at Mt. Olive Baptist church. Moreover, Dr. White has conducted Black history workshops and seminars on living a vibrant lifestyle that synthesizes faith and the pursuit of social justice.

He was awarded the Dr. James Robinson Equal Opportunity Award (honoring those who fight for equity at Penn State) in 2021. He received the highly competitive Atherton Excellence in Teaching Award in 2021 as well. Finally, in 2022 he was a New Pittsburgh Courier Men of Excellence honoree and was recognized for his contribution in the field of education.