BADA History

Mission & Vision

OUR MISSION

To develop a strong and enduring club structure in order to further the interest, welfare and educational purposes of Dartmouth College and the Black Alumni community of Dartmouth College.

OUR VISION

Our vision is to enhance our members’ relationships with each other by being a supportive community of alumni that celebrates the diversity of the Black experience at Dartmouth.

HISTORY

IN THE FALL OF 1971, the members of the Afro-American Society of Dartmouth College met with a group of alumni to determine the feasibility of mapping out a future course of action involving both constituencies. A series of meetings followed in late 1971 and early 1972 with Black students, faculty, staff and alumni, to explore ways in which a closer relationship could be established between the alumni and the growing Black Community in Hanover.

These sessions, which were held in New York, Hanover, Washington, D.C., and Boston resulted in the decision to hold a formal conference dealing with specific issues related to students. Several proposed goals were also advanced:

  • To provide informed guidance to Black undergraduates concerning career opportunities
  • To develop a continuing relationship between Black alumni and undergraduates
  • To aid the College in serving the particular needs of Black students by reviewing and influencing the policies and practices of the College
  • To increase efforts for recruiting Black students to Dartmouth

An alumni steering committee led by Garvey E. Clarke, Esq., ’57 was established to coordinate the activities and enlist the participation of the Black alumni in this new venture. President John Kemeney agreed to make the facilities of the College available for the conference and generally to provide such other assistance as necessary to assure its success. Thus, the infrastructure of the Black Alumni of Dartmouth Association was born.

BADA’s vision now and for the future is one that was shared by other distinguished alumni long before the creation of a formal organization. The legacy of alumni such as Edward Mitchell, Class of 1828, the first African-American at Dartmouth, Dr. E. Everett Just, Class of ’07 and Thornton H. Wood, Class of ’19, lives in our organization. These Black alumni were very much aware of their pioneer status and dreamed that one day there would be a legacy and history of African-Americans at Dartmouth.

We must continue our efforts to meet the goals established by our founders, as well as the new challenges that arise. We owe it to ourselves, our future, our legacies, our Black alumni and the College.

Read more about the history of Black students and faculty at Dartmouth here.

BADA FOUNDERS

Hon. Fritz Alexander II ’47
Nelson Armstrong ’71
Eugene Booth ’57
Reverend James Breeden ’56
Garvey E. Clarke, Esq. ’58
R. Harcourt Dodd, Esq. ’58
Richard L. Fairley ’55
Keith M. Jackson ’70
Galen Kirkland, Esq. ’72
Forrester A. Lee, Jr. ’68
Reverend H. Carl McCall ’58
Julian K. Robinson ’52
Stuart Simms ’72
Samuel W. Smith ’50
Arch Whitehead ’58

BADA PRESIDENTS

Hon. Fritz Alexander II ’47 – 1973-1975
Keith M. Jackson ’71 – 1977-1979
Stuart O Simms ’72 – 1979-1981
Cruz C. Russell ’75 – 1981-1983
Garvey E. Clarke ’57 – 1983-1985
Gary L. Love ’76 – 1985-1989
Karen M. Turner ’76 – 1989-1992
Craig R Triplett ’76 – 1992-1996
Morris C. “Rocky” Whitaker ’74 – 1996-1997
Tracey Salmon-Smith ’87 – 1997-2000
Todd L. Cranford ’85 – 2000-2003
Ricki Fairley-Brown ’78 – 2003-2010
Ellis Rowe ’74 – 2010-2015
Leah Threatte Bojnowski ’01 – 2015-2017
Karim D. Marshall ’03 – 2018-Present

Contact Us

Black Alumni of Dartmouth Association
Email: contact@bada1972.org