Morehouse Alumni Association
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| Morehouse Alumni Association | |
|---|---|
| Name | Morehouse Alumni Association |
| Formation | 1910s |
| Type | Alumni association |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Parent institution | Morehouse College |
Morehouse Alumni Association is the organized body of graduates and former students associated with Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. It serves as a network connecting alumni to institutional leadership, student programs, and civic partners such as NAACP, United Negro College Fund, and Thurgood Marshall College Fund. The association routinely engages with entities like the United States Congress, Georgia State University, and civic organizations in the Atlanta metropolitan area to further institutional goals.
History
The association traces roots to early 20th-century alumni efforts linked to figures such as Benjamin Mays and Martin Luther King Jr. alumni networks that intersected with organizations like the National Urban League, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and Freedmen's Bureau initiatives. Throughout the Civil Rights Movement the association coordinated with leaders from Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and activists involved in events like the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the Selma to Montgomery marches. During the late 20th century, alumni engaged with corporate partners including IBM, Coca-Cola, and Delta Air Lines while working with philanthropic foundations such as the Ford Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
Mission and Activities
The association's mission aligns alumni efforts with institutional priorities of Morehouse College, promoting leadership exemplified by alumni like Spike Lee and Samuel L. Jackson while supporting academic initiatives recognized by awards such as the MacArthur Fellowship and Rhodes Scholarship. Activities include career networking with firms like Goldman Sachs and Microsoft, civic engagement with entities like Atlanta City Council and United Nations, and fundraising campaigns modeled on drives by Harvard Alumni Association and Princeton Alumni Association.
Governance and Leadership
Governance typically comprises an elected board, executive officers, and regional representatives, drawing governance models from bodies such as the American Council on Education and patterned after governance practices seen at Howard University and Spelman College. Past leaders have included prominent alumni who interfaced with officials from the White House and leaders from corporations like Bank of America and AT&T. The structure features committees for finance, scholarships, communications, and alumni relations similar to committees at Johns Hopkins University and Yale University alumni organizations.
Membership and Chapters
Membership encompasses alumni, former students, and emeriti linked across metropolitan hubs including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Washington, D.C., and international locations such as London, Paris, and Accra. Chapters often collaborate with local institutions like Morehouse School of Medicine, Clark Atlanta University, and organizations including the Urban League Young Professionals and NAACP Youth & College Division. Student-affiliated groups coordinate with campus entities like the Student Government Association and honor societies such as Phi Beta Kappa.
Programs and Scholarships
Programs include mentorship initiatives modeled after Big Brothers Big Sisters of America partnerships, internship pipelines with companies like EY and PricewaterhouseCoopers, and entrepreneurship accelerators drawing inspiration from Kauffman Foundation programs. Scholarship funds have honored alumni figures and supported awards akin to the Gates Millennium Scholars and Jack Kent Cooke Foundation grants, while research fellowships emulate programs at National Science Foundation and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation-supported institutes.
Events and Traditions
Annual events range from reunions and homecomings to lectures featuring speakers similar to those hosted by The Carter Center and symposiums referencing themes from the King Center. Traditions include convocations, scholarship banquets, and awards nights that attract celebrities and leaders such as Oprah Winfrey, John Lewis, and honorees from the NAACP Image Awards and Kennedy Center Honors.
Impact and Notable Alumni Contributions
Alumni have influenced fields spanning entertainment, law, medicine, business, and public service, producing leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Julian Bond, W. E. B. Du Bois-era scholars, and contemporary figures associated with institutions like The New York Times, NASA, and S&P Global. Contributions include policy advocacy in legislatures such as the Georgia General Assembly and United States Senate, philanthropic endowments to institutions including Morehouse College and Spelman College, and entrepreneurship that spawned companies listed on the Fortune 500. The association's alumni have held appointments in administrations from Franklin D. Roosevelt-era programs to modern cabinets, served on boards of organizations like the Rockefeller Foundation and United Negro College Fund, and advanced scholarship through fellowships at Harvard University and Oxford University.