University News

Four Faculty to Join WIU in Fall 2021 as Inaugural Vivian Diversity Teaching Scholars

August 11, 2021

Share |
Printer friendly version

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Four incoming faculty members will join the Western Illinois University Division of Academic Affairs as the institution's inaugural Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian Diversity Teaching Scholars.

The Vivian Diversity Teaching Scholars Program, formerly called the WIU Minority Dissertation Fellowship Program, was revised and renamed in 2020 in the Rev. Dr. Vivian's honor. The Vivian Scholars Program provides teaching opportunities to graduate students and current academic professional pursing careers as University faculty and are entering the final year of a terminal degree or doctoral program. The Vivian Scholars have the opportunity to remain at WIU as full-time faculty members following completion of their terminal degree.

The following scholars will begin teaching at WIU in Fall 2021:

Pechulano Ngwe Ali – Department of Broadcasting and Journalism.

Brenda Iglesias Zarco and Alfonzo Cooper Jr. – School of Music

Jin Park – Department of Kinesiology (Sport Management)

"I am pleased that we were able to reinvigorate this important hiring program and bring several excellent diverse faculty to WIU. Our students will have the opportunity to benefit from the work of these new faculty, who will enrich the cultural and ethnic diversity of our campus," said WIU Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Billy Clow. "Their contributions, both within WIU and in our community, will continue to enhance our University and make us stronger as we look to future growth. I am excited to watch their progression during what I hope is a long WIU career."

The Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian, a legendary Civil Rights activist and Macomb native, passed away at the age of 95 on July 17, 2020. The distinguished author, organizer and Civil Rights icon graduated from Macomb High School in 1942 and went on to attend WIU, where he worked as the sports editor for the student newspaper. His career as an activist began in Peoria (IL), where he participated in his first sit-in demonstrations, which successfully integrated Barton's Cafeteria in 1947.

During his long career as a Civil Rights activist, Vivian served with Dr. Martin Luther King in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. He joined King's executive staff and served as the national director of affiliates for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. While in Chicago he organized and directed the Coalition for United Community Action. The group of 61 organizations became Chicago's Black Front.
He was the first one of King's staff to write a book on the Civil Rights Movement, "Black Power and the American Myth." In 2013, he was among 16 individuals recognized with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Vivian was the director of the Urban Theological Institute at Atlanta's Interdenominational Theological Center, a consortium of African-American seminaries, and was board chair of Capitol City Bank, a minority-owned bank with branches in eight locations in Georgia. Through his C.T. Vivian Leadership Institute, he fostered innovative leadership and career development for at-risk youth and college graduates.

In September 2020, a new historical marker commemorating the life of the Rev. Dr. Vivian was unveiled 630 East Adams Street (former site of Vivian's childhood home). In October 2015, the Macomb High School Library was renamed the C.T. Vivian Library. The Rev. Dr. Vivian also served as the WIU Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal that year, and the City of Macomb issued an honorary designation of C.T. Vivian Way from University Drive to Carroll Street. In addition, in September 2003, Macomb City officials designated a portion of West Murray Street from Stadium Drive to University Drive, the roadway through the campus, as C.T. Vivian Way. Vivian received an honorary doctorate from Western Illinois University in 1987.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing