Dedicated Board Member and Historian Passes
Pioneer in promoting black history
Gloria Dickinson, immediate past international regional director, former national officer, president of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and head of African American Studies at the College of New Jersey made her transition on Sunday, January 18, 2009.
Dickinson was a lifelong devotee of African-American history and made it her mission to promote and advance black culture. To this end, she was a recognized authority on the African Diaspora and traveled the world broadening her knowledge of African traditions, heritage and customs. A walking ambassador to black history, her international forays included participating in the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing and speaking on issues that impact African American women. In 2001, she lectured at the U.S. Embassy in Paris and the U.S. Consulate in Strasbourg.
She was hailed for being a teacher who brought black history to life through her innovative techniques that allowed her students to make a special connection to their culture. Combining her love of history with her love for her Sorority, she once asked students to prepare oral histories of Alpha Kappa Alpha members who graduated before the Brown v. Board of Education case.
In another fascinating assignment, she expedited a video conference with Harvard professor Charles Ogletree, who spoke on justice and race. She also incorporated technology into her teaching and was one of the first to introduce computers into the classroom. Coupled with her knowledge of media technology, her lessons were enhanced and her teaching was more meaningful because of her ability to bring technology into the classroom.
In an obituary authored by Gayle Ronan Sims for the Philadelphia Inquirer, she summed up her life's mission by saying, "I've always tried to connect with communities of people from African heritage."
In reflecting on her life and her contribution to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, international president Barbara A. McKinzie said, "Gloria Dickinson served Alpha Kappa Alpha faithfully and dutifully all of her life—from the moment she was initiated until the moment she made her transition. She held positions at the local, regional and international levels. Most recently, she was Centennial International Director during my administration. She was a living testament to the ideals of service that Alpha Kappa Alpha represents. On a personal level, she was a very close friend throughout the years—in addition to being a Sorority sister and colleague. She was a real champion to our sisterhood and will be deeply missed."
Dickinson is survived by her husband Arthur, and a legion of friends, colleagues, associates and Sorority sisters.