This February, the ÃÛÌÒAPP community gathered to celebrate a historic milestone: the university’s bicentennial. At the same time, this month marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, which honors the achievements and contributions of African Americans and people of African descent across the nation.
For decades, Black students, faculty and alumni at CWRU have left lasting marks on society and history, such as:
- Fred Gray (LAW ’54), renowned civil rights attorney and 2022 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient;
- Stephanie Tubbs Jones, JD (FSM ’71, LAW ’74), the first Black woman elected to Congress from Ohio; and
- Tamia Potter, MD (MED ’23), the first Black woman accepted into Vanderbilt University’s neurosurgery residency program.
Today, Black student leaders at CWRU contribute to this legacy by uplifting the community, advancing advocacy efforts and achieving academic excellence.
In recognition of Black History Month, we spoke with seven student leaders to learn about their journeys and the legacies they are building.
Read on to meet four of these individuals, who shared their experiences, what drives them, and the impact they hope to leave behind—and stay tuned for three more later this month.
Answers have been edited for clarity and length.
Joy Hendrix
Joy Hendrix is a fourth-year biology and first-year Master of Public Health student on the health promotion and disease prevention track. Inspired to foster spaces for cultural expression and mitigate health disparities, Hendrix serves as vice president of the and a research assistant at
Q. What does your cultural heritage mean to you and how has it influenced your identity and experiences on campus?
As an African American woman, my Black heritage is a reminder that nothing is unachievable. With odds stacked against them, my ancestors overcame transgenerational discrimination to allow me to be where I’m at today. My culture is backed with many trials, but also a unique beauty and sense of unity that I strive to embrace wherever I go. Coming to CWRU, I was encouraged to connect with those that share my culture through the involvement with Black student organizations in our Black Student Union. I sought and fostered spaces where soul food, conversations on injustice, line dancing and differences across Black cultures were embraced. I’ve not only learned the importance of fostering safe spaces for cultural expression at CWRU, but I also developed many friendships and connections that have made my journey so enjoyable.
Q: How has your experience at CWRU shaped who you are today and the impact you hope to make moving forward?
Coming to CWRU, I recognized that I would statistically be more of a minority than I’ve been in previous spaces. With this in mind, I knew that community building and representation would be essential to staying connected with my culture while making an impact. This perspective influences me to lead as a mentor. I jumped at the opportunity to be a student leader in the Envision Weekend program because I understood how impactful it would be for incoming minorities to see representation early on. While I was the president of AfroAm, I made it a goal to continue outreach to high school students who may have lacked representation in academic spaces. At CWRU, I strive to be mindful of the social impacts that could affect my community and aim to lead with intentionality, compassion and familiarity.
Q. Why do you think it’s important for institutions like CWRU to celebrate and recognize various cultural heritages?
Representation matters. As students, our voices and history help us tell our stories authentically in ways that no one else can. Celebrating various cultural heritages allows groups to feel welcomed and seen, while exposing others to new understandings of the world. In an institution that values learning and thinking big, it is important that diverse perspectives, based on lived experiences and culture, are celebrated and brought to the table. Culture is a major aspect of what makes us who we are, so celebrating and recognizing the way they vary respects students as more than just numbers.
Olatunde Akin-Oluyomi
Olatunde Akin-Oluyomi is a second-year student in the full-time Master of Business Administration program with a concentration in finance, operations and supply chain management. Beyond the classroom, Akin-Oluyomi serves as president of the and vice president of outreach for the .
Q. What does your cultural heritage mean to you and how has it influenced your identity and experiences on campus?
My Black heritage is based on my African experience. I am from the Yoruba tribe in Ogun State, Nigeria, a place of cultural pride, respect for tradition, resilience and aspiration for a better future. I grew up learning about the exploits of my parents and icons from my state, such as Wole Soyinka, the first African to win the Nobel Prize in literature. I saw this resilience while working in Nigeria and Kenya, and I see it in my African and Black classmates at CWRU. My identity has driven me to mentor and uplift those around me, ensuring that the success I achieve isn’t isolated. At CWRU, I have channelled this into tutoring my classmates and creating meaningful experiences and opportunities as a student leader. I’ll carry that same mindset as I pursue a career in product management and eventually entrepreneurship.
Q: How has your experience at CWRU shaped who you are today and the impact you hope to make moving forward?
CWRU has helped me to harness the power of mentorship and community. Our professors, staff and peers have believed in me in ways that made my ambitions feel possible. Beyond this, the CWRU alumni community and network of industry professionals who visit campus for events and mentoring opportunities have shown excitement to help us students achieve our goals. I want to pay that forward by influencing organizations to mentor and develop other emerging leaders, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds. My immediate impact will be through my work at a company where I can influence how we develop talent and build inclusive teams.
Q. 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month and CWRU’s bicentennial. What does it mean to you to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime moment?
I am fortunate to be at CWRU during its 200th year, which also coincides with the 100th [anniversary of] Black History Month. I am here because of the struggles of earlier Black generations to open doors, and I feel responsible for widening those doors for those coming after me. It is a time to reflect on opportunities that still exist to improve Black representation and equity and to provide more avenues for success here on campus and afterwards.
Juliet Atieno
A third-year nutrition student on the pre-medical track, Juliet Atieno serves as vice president of , which leads initiatives focused on community building and women empowerment. Atieno also works as an enrollment management associate intern at the School of Medicine, supports grade level students through a community literacy program, and volunteers with .
Q. What does your cultural heritage mean to you and how has it influenced your identity and experiences on campus?
My cultural heritage means everything to me, and I would choose to be African in every lifetime. Growing up Kenyan shaped how I understand community, perseverance and identity, and those values remain central to who I am today. At CWRU, my background informs how I navigate academic and social spaces with pride, purpose and a sense of belonging to something larger than myself. My identity as a Black student shapes my leadership by deepening my awareness of history, representation and the different realities students bring to shared spaces. Learning from Black faculty, mentors and historical figures who paved the way has shown me that leadership is relational and responsibility-driven. I aim to create spaces where students feel acknowledged, supported, and empowered to show up fully as themselves.
Q: How has your experience at CWRU shaped who you are today and the impact you hope to make moving forward?
My experience at CWRU affirmed that I am on the right path, both academically and personally. Every interaction with peers, mentors and the Greater Cleveland community has shaped my perspective, teaching me the value of service, empathy and community engagement. I hope to create a lasting impact wherever I go, using my education and future medical degree to serve underserved communities and increase representation. My goal is to honor the work of those who came before me by creating change that endures and inspires the next generation of Black leaders and physicians.
Q. Why do you think it’s important for institutions like CWRU to celebrate and recognize various cultural heritages?
College is one of the rare spaces where people from entirely different worlds are brought into sustained conversation with one another. When cultural heritage is acknowledged, it affirms that students do not need to dilute their identities to belong or succeed. This recognition challenges dominant narratives about whose histories are valued, expands how knowledge is understood, and invites more honest engagement across differences. At its best, it prepares students not just to excel professionally, but to lead with awareness, responsibility and respect for the communities they will impact long after graduation.
Jacobi Reddix
In addition to studying as a second-year JD candidate, Jacobi Reddix (MED ’23) stays involved on campus as president of the Lambda Law Students Association and events coordinator for the. She is also director of community engagement for the CWRU chapter of the , the oldest nationwide progressive bar association that advocates for prison abolition and protestor rights.
Q. What does your cultural heritage mean to you and how has it influenced your identity and experiences on campus?
My heritage is not something I turn on and off; it's my foundation. It shapes how I move through the world, how I understand community and how I measure success. Black culture is everywhere in my life. It is the way I speak, the music I listen to, the joy I find and the resilience I carry. It's something I discovered more deeply over time, but it's also something I would never let go of. Black culture brought me to CWRU because I was looking for a place to grow intellectually without losing myself. I wanted an institution that would challenge me while still giving me space to show up fully—culturally, socially and professionally. ÃÛÌÒAPP gives me the opportunity to do that.
Q: How has your experience at CWRU shaped who you are today and the impact you hope to make moving forward?
My experience at CWRU has reinforced my commitment to service, equity and representation while also reminding me of the power of community. I’ve learned that impact doesn’t always come from grand gestures—it often comes from consistency, showing up and creating space for others. Law school can be intense and isolating at times, but finding community through the people I’ve met along the way has made all the difference. The relationships I’ve built with other Black students—through conversations, events and simply supporting one another—have been grounding. Being surrounded by people who share similar experiences, challenges and goals has reminded me that I don’t have to navigate this journey alone. Because of that support, I hope to create impact by advocating for marginalized communities, mentoring future students and using my education to challenge systems that limit access and opportunity.
Q. 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month and CWRU’s bicentennial. What does it mean to you to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime moment?
Being part of the 100th anniversary of Black History Month and CWRU’s bicentennial feels meaningful in a very real way. It makes me think about the Black students who came before me and the space they helped create, often under circumstances that were much more difficult than mine. To be included in this moment reminds me that progress doesn’t happen all at once. It’s built over time through perseverance, community and showing up, even when it’s hard. It also makes me more aware of the responsibility to carry that history forward by continuing to take up space, support others and contribute to the campus in a way that reflects that legacy. Being part of this milestone feels grounding, and it’s a reminder that our presence here matters.
