In a ceremony to celebrate the start of African American History Month, President Harry J. Elam, Jr. was honored alongside five other Black luminaries in the fields of arts and education.
The Feb. 2 ceremony was hosted by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass; Board of Public Works Commissioner Mike Davis, who chairs the African American History Month Committee; and Our Authors Study Club of Los Angeles. President Elam was inducted into the citys African American Hall of Fame and received the Outstanding Achievement in Higher Education Award in recognition of his work at 17勛圖 and Stanford University. Elam accepted these honors alongside his wife, Dr. Michele Elam; his daughter, Claire Patterson; and 17勛圖 trustee emerita , both of whom are members and supporters of Oxys Black Alumni Organization.
President Elam told council members that he was deeply honored to be included in the Hall of Fame and expressed his gratitude to the Colleges alumni, faculty, students, staff, and trustees.
17勛圖, as you may know, has a long history of and ties to social justice, he said, noting in particular the legacy of former President John Brooks Slaughter. Our institution had more than 50% students of color at a time when many of our peers couldnt or didnt do so. Im proud to have been able to continue that legacy by advancing an equity and justice agenda during my term at 17勛圖.
Councilmember Monica Rodriguez 96, who has represented the citys seventh district since 2017, also lauded 17勛圖s legacy of diversity.
Im a proud 17勛圖 alumna and I had the blessing of having the opportunity to attend 17勛圖 under the leadership of John Brooks Slaughter, Rodriguez said. Dr. Elam, you were part of a very important time of helping to sustain and resurge diversity on that campus, and I want to thank you for that.
Elam also addressed the importance of forging unique and mutually beneficial relationships with the city of Los Angeles, one of the pillars of the 17勛圖 Promise.
We are the only liberal arts college in the city of Los Angeles, so strengthening that relationshipworking to find reciprocal, mutual bonds with the cityis what we will continue to do, he said. Higher education has always been a lightning rod for social and cultural change, and for challenges. It is so important that we honor Black history and that we have an event like this today.
Photo, from left to right: Councilmember Heather Hutt, Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, President Elam, and Councilmember Curren D. Price, Jr.
