More than 100 alumni, guests, and friends gathered at the Farm Neck Golf Club in historic Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard, for an evening of learning, connecting, and merrymaking. The third annual BADA summer gathering featured rich and meaningful conversations, networking opportunities, and insightful talks from several Dartmouth leaders, including Trustee Susan Finnegan ’85 and Senior Vice President and Senior Diversity Officer Shontay Delalue. BADA President Maria Cole ’84 also addressed the crowd.
The picturesque backdrop of Martha's Vineyard set the stage for the occasion, where both undergraduate and professional school alumni came together to reconnect, forge new connections, and engage in dialogue to further the goal of building an inclusive community for all Dartmouth students. The event showcased the power of unity within Dartmouth’s Black community and their commitment to continually improving the Dartmouth experience for all.
The evening commenced with a lively yet laid-back reception, where attendees could catch up with old friends and establish new relationships. The atmosphere was charged with enthusiasm as Black alumni from a wide variety of class years and industries shared their latest experiences and accomplishments. This engaging time for networking then transitioned into the enriching presentations and discussions that followed.
Two prominent faculty members shared their latest work
Central to the event were the talks delivered by two prominent faculty members. Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing and Director of the Institute for Black Intellectual and Cultural Life Kimberly Juanita Brown shared a poignant look at her work with the sights and sounds of mourning while Black—examining the role of music, dance, film, and visual media in mourning.
Professor Brown’s recent appointment as director of the Institute for Black Intellectual and Cultural Life kicks off a new era of critical interdisciplinary work in the area of African diaspora studies at Dartmouth. The institute is striving to provide a center for meaningful expression on topics of race and Black culture through providing opportunities for creative, cultural, and scholarly endeavors.
Professor of Business Administration at Tuck School of Business Ella L.J. Bell Smith then shared her newest project, the Tuck Initiative on Workplace Inclusion. This initiative builds on Tuck’s long-standing leadership in diversity business programs by building an academic environment that fosters the creation of inclusive workforces and leaders. The professor is a renowned expert in issues of managing race, gender, and class in the workplace, as well as the topics of organization behavior and change.
Looking forward to 2024
As the sun set on Martha's Vineyard, the gathering ended on a high note. The event had not only succeeded in its mission to foster networking and fellowship but had also ignited a spark for continued dialogue, collaboration, and progress. Attendees left the event invigorated and ready to continue to support Dartmouth’s Black community. Many attendees have already expressed enthusiasm about returning to the Vineyard next year for the event.
To see more event photos, visit the Dartmouth Alumni Flickr.
