By William H. Kelly III
(JACKSON, Miss.) – Jackson State University’s Dean of Students Laquala C. Dixon, Ph.D., was named the 2024 NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Black Diaspora Knowledge Community (BDKC) Sankofa Award recipient. The Sankofa Award is presented to a senior student affairs officer who has provided support and commitment to the BDKC by demonstrating the meaning of Sankofa, which “teaches us that we must go back to our roots in order to move forward.”
Dixon joined NASPA in 2013 and, for four years, has served as a member of the BDKC leadership team, formerly the African-American Knowledge Community. She began as the Region III representative and was ultimately appointed to serve as the HBCU liaison for the BDKC.
“It was surprising because I do the work because I’m driven, and when I see gaps, I try to fill them. I never do anything for acknowledgment or recognition, so it was great to see that someone sees my work,” said Dixon. “I feel like it was a perfect example of how people say, ‘You never know who’s watching,’ because I have no idea who submitted the nomination.”
This is not Dixon’s first recognition by NASPA.
She recently participated as a presenter and faculty member for the NASPA African American Women’s Summit in Seattle. The conference is dedicated to equipping and empowering Black women leaders in higher education. In 2021, Dixon received the Outstanding HBCU/Minority-Serving Institution Professional in Region III Award and was acknowledged as a member of the 2022 and 2023 Stellar 50 class, which recognizes professionals with at least five years of experience in student affairs.
“Dr. Dixon has been an active and engaged member of the NASPA community for over 10 years. Her engagement allows NASPA members to learn more about the work of HBCUs. This award is a testament to her dedication and commitment to advocating for and advancing the work being done with and for HBCUs within the organization,” said Vice President of Student Affairs Fran’Cee Brown-McClure, Ph.D.
Dixon said she remains committed to showcasing the power and impact of HBCUs.
“In certain instances, we have limited access. However, that’s not stopping the work that we actually do because we’re doing more with less, and we have to make sure that we remind people that we are historically Black institutions and that we’re also historically driven to make things happen.”
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Media Contact: William H. Kelly III, william.h.kelly@jsums.edu