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Donald Brown, director of AHANA Student Programs, was honored Tuesday night for 27 years of service to the Boston College community at a celebration held in Gasson 100. The event, sponsored by the AHANA Leadership Council (ALC), consisted of dinner, a performance by Voices of Imani, and speakers sharing memories of Brown.
Brown, who arrived at BC in 1978, has overseen the development of the AHANA acronym and the establishment of the Sr. Thea Bowman AHANA Center and the Options Through Education program, which has increased retention rates among AHANA students from 17 percent upon his arrival to over 90 percent today.
"If I was to step from time into eternity, my life would be complete ... I can't thank you enough," he said upon receiving a plaque from Charles A. Grandson IV, ALC president and A&S '05, and Stephanie Fernandez, ALC chief of staff and A&S '06.
"What you have done ... has caught on," Brown said, addressing numerous alumni who returned to honor his service. "We are better today because we are a stronger AHANA community at Boston College."
The event began with a performance by Voices of Imani and was followed by students sharing their own memories of their experiences with Brown, a man they said is a strong leader and an influential mentor.
"Throughout my academic career there has been one man who represented the struggle of people of color," said Omar Gonzales, A&S '06. Describing him as a "true gentleman," he continued, "Dr. Brown has shown that one man of color can make a difference at a predominantly white institution."
Citing examples of adversity in her own life, Sarah Ha, A&S '05, said Brown's example helped her navigate various personal struggles.
"Dr. Brown shared very inspirational stories with me about how he overcame adversity, and showed me that I could too," she said.
Before the event, Grandson offered similar thoughts about Brown's role as a model for all leaders. "[Brown] has been the beacon of strength, the foundation, the historian, the philosopher, the person who is best suited to ... direct students in the right direction, when it comes to excelling in academics, to leadership development," he said.
For his part, Brown cited increased academic success among members of the AHANA community and the growth of community at BC as among his proudest achievements.
"I think having some impact on retention and graduation, creating a climate where AHANA students feel more welcome now than in past years ... I think there's certainly room for improvement, but we've come a long way," he said.
The event also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the AHANA acronym, which came into being early in Brown's tenure at BC, and the 10th anniversary of the ALC.
Brown said that the Office of AHANA Student Programs and groups associated with it have been influential in forging unity not only within the AHANA community, but within the BC community as a whole.
"In terms of bringing folk together, I think AHANA students have worked to try and bring this community a little bit closer together," said Brown. "And this I've seen more so in recent years than ever before. I think the AHANA Leadership Council is stronger than it's ever been."
Students present cited the AHANA community on campus as an important part of their lives at BC.
"[The AHANA acronym] is who I am," said Akim St. Omer, president of the Caribbean Culture Club and A&S '06. "Since I've gotten to Boston College it's been a part of who I am. I support as many issues surrounding the AHANA community as I can, because I know that we are still the underrepresented group on campus."
Gilda Miranda, BC '97, echoed the same sentiment.
"I came in feeling ... like I didn't fit in. This program, everything that it represents affects me in a positive way," she said in reference to the Office of AHANA Student Programs.
Grandson emphasized the importance of the Office of AHANA Student Programs in acclimating students to life at Boston College, saying that it provides "a strong support system that will always be there."
"The other thing the student needs is to be encouraged, to see people who look like them around campus," he said. Grandson said that Brown in particular has been crucial in bringing faculty and administrators of AHANA descent to BC.
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