On Monday, January 19 at 10:45 a.m. in French Memorial Chapel (800 N. Turner Ave.), Dr. Dana Murray Patterson will lecture on “Sankofa: Recovering the Black Box of Civil Rights” as part of Hastings College’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration. The event, sponsored by the Multicultural Student Union, is free and open to the public.
“Using the words of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other great civil rights leaders, my talk will help to unlock the wisdom of the movement and its practical application to social injustice today,” said Dr. Patterson, Director of the Bolinga Cultural Resources Center at Wright State University.
She explained that “the black box refers to fully understanding the words, the sentiments and the spirit of the movement.”
“The black box, much like a time capsule, will allow us to see the good, the bad and the incomplete,” she said. “Stressing the importance of history as a teacher, I will stress the concept of asking, knowing and then ‘doing’ something.”
Other campus activities on MLK, Jr. Day include a luncheon with Dr. Patterson from noon-1:30 p.m. in Hazelrigg Student Union (HSU) (705 E. 9th Street); a diversity workshop from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in HSU Room C; and a worship service from 7-8 p.m. in French Memorial Chapel (800 N. Turner Ave.) These events are also free and open to the public.
Bio for Dr. Dana Murray Patterson
Dr. Dana Murray Patterson currently serves as the Director for the Bolinga Cultural Resources Center at Wright State University. She has worked in higher education for the past twelve years and brings extensive experience with diverse populations across various campus climates and settings. Her previous experiences include serving as Director of the Coretta Scott King Center for Cultural and Intellectual Freedom at Antioch College, Director of the Talmadge Anderson Heritage House for Black Studies at Washington State University and Director of the Multicultural Resource Center at Emporia State University. Dana also worked as a key member of the residential life team in the departments of student affairs at the University of Cincinnati, Eastern Kentucky University, and Washington State University. She has participated as a conduct hearing officer at EKU, UC and Washington State University, Director of a Bonner Scholars Service Program at Antioch and as an administrator for Upward Bound at Berea College.
Dana completed her PhD in Higher Education Administration at Washington State University with an emphasis on Cultural Studies and Social Thought in Education. During her tenure at WSU, Dana was a member of the Board of Directors for the Office of the Vice President for Equity and Diversity and served as an Assistant Director for the Department of Residence Life. With an extensive background in Student Affairs and Diversity Education from major Colleges and Universities across the country, Dana is well prepared to discuss the complexities of the Black student experience. She completed her B.A. in Social Science at Berea College (1992) and her M.A. in Student Personnel Services in Higher Education at Eastern Kentucky University (1998).
Dr. Patterson’s dissertation “Divorcing the doctor: Black women doctoral students and their intimate relationships during the doctoral process” expounds on the complex issues facing Black women at the intersection and race and gender in higher education. Her research interests include issues of inclusion in higher education, the intersection of race and gender, and survival strategies of students from underrepresented communities.
Dana resides with her husband of 17 years and four children including a son, Isaiah (14) and daughters Kayla (12), Destiny (9) and Jacqueline (8).
