Get involved
Interested in having a mentor? .
Black Alumni of SMU
Attend events
Join us for professional networking, social and cultural events.
We hope to see you at our annual signature event the Black Excellence Ball. Along with the Association of Black Students, we bring together fellow alumni, students, staff, faculty, parents and friends. The evening is a tribute to Black leaders throughout SMU’s history and honors one or more deserving student scholarship recipients, recognizes exceptional students and celebrates the annual Black Alumni of ҹɫÍõ³¯History Maker Award winner.
Fund scholarship
of 18 to 24-year-olds enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program but represent just 9% of bachelor’s degrees obtained by young adults.
While 62% of white students finish their degree within six years of initial enrollment, only . Economics play a key factor.
In 2011, we established the Black Alumni Scholarship to help change this. Each year we work with the to award scholarships to deserving upperclassmen as they enter the final stretch of completing their ҹɫÍõ³¯degrees.
Be a volunteer
Apply to become part of the Black Alumni of ҹɫÍõ³¯Board.
Want to nominate an alum for membership? Click
Become a mentor. The Black Alumni of ҹɫÍõ³¯Mentorship Program provides a platform for sharing your expertise and experience with students. ҹɫÍõ³¯Alumni Relations and Engagement, the Hegi Family Career Development Center and the Office of Social Change and Intercultural Engagement are working together to create rewarding opportunities for alumni and student participants. Click for information about becoming a mentor. Students who wish to participate as a mentee in the program can click for more information.
2025 – 2026 Black Alumni of ҹɫÍõ³¯Board
We serve the ҹɫÍõ³¯Black alumni community and seek to cultivate a more positive experience for students of color at SMU. To learn more about our involvement with the Black Unity Forum and its social justice initiatives, click here.
Know someone who should be a Black Alumni of ҹɫÍõ³¯Leader?
Black Alumni Board Members
Lauren Driskell ’06
Chair
Joshua K. Hughes ’22
Chair-Elect
Sarah Davenport '17
Past Chair
Karrington Bennett ’23
Member at large
Madelyn Brené ’10
Member at large
Rickie Clinton-Wright ’77
Member at large
Chris Cunningham ’03, ’22
Member at large
Kanetria Doolin ’21
Member at large
Frenchaire Gardner ’02
Member at large
Alyse Hope ’22
Member at large
Lyndon Hughey ’16
Member at large
Jessica Jones ’08
Member at large
Dionna Matlock ’03
Member at large
Kacy Rodgers II ’22
Member at large
Alexandrea Roland ’19
Member at large
Dannette Urquhart Taylor ’22
Member at large
Jasmine Tobias ’06, ’15
Member at large
Jasmine R. Williams ’22
Member at large