VCU honors Nelson Mandela at campus event

Virginia Commonwealth University honored Nelson Mandela on Wednesday in a celebration that featured music, poetry and a lineup of speakers who discussed Mandela's impact on his country and the world.

Having just returned from South Africa only weeks before Mandela’s passing, Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Theater in the School of the Arts, opened the gathering with an emphasis on viewing his death as a transition rather than an ending. She spoke of how the African nation celebrates Mandela’s place as one of its elders now and stressed the importance of carrying on his pursuit of equality in his stead.

Other scheduled speakers included Blue Wooldridge, D.P.A, professor in the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs; McKenna Brown, executive director of Global Education in the School of World Studies, part of the College of Humanities and Sciences; Aashir Nasim, Ph.D., chair of the Department of African American Studies, part of the College of Humanities and Sciences; Christopher Brooks, Ph.D., professor of anthropology in the School of World Studies; Wanda Mitchell, Ed.D, vice president for inclusive excellence at VCU; and Cynthia Newbille, Ph.D., who represents the East End 7th District on the Richmond City Council.

Sponsors for the event included the Black Education Association, the Office of Global Education and the Department of African American Studies.

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