Black Faculty Association celebrates 2024 Legacy Award recipients

At its most recent meeting, the Black Faculty Association (BFA) of Oakland University welcomed new members, celebrated current faculty members' promotions and research achievements, and introduced this year’s class of Legacy Award recipients, Dr. Rose Cooper and Dr. Frances Jackson.

During her opening remarks, Dr. Chaunda Scott, president of the Black Faculty Association, welcomed everyone in attendance and introduced her fellow Board members, Dr. Richard Olawoyin, vice president; Dr. Caress Dean, secretary; and Dr. Kodi Beyeh, treasurer. She also encouraged those in attendance to consider running for board positions in the future.

The culmination of the meeting was the introduction and remarks by this year’s Legacy Award recipients, Dr. Cooper and Dr. Jackson.

Cooper is a former student and alumnus of Oakland University who joined the faculty upon completion of her master’s degree in 1973. She started as an Instructor of Learning Skills, a tenure-track position in the Department of Learning Skills. She retired from Oakland in 2020 as an associate professor of Communication, in the Department of Communication, Journalism and Public Relations. She is now a professor emeritus for the department in recognition of her distinguished career and service.

Cooper says that her time at Oakland University has made an indelible imprint on her life. “After being hired upon receiving my graduate degree in 1973, and working here until my retirement in 2020, I never thought I’d be back at Oakland to receive an award like this,” Cooper said. “It is at Oakland that I learned to work hard and there was always something about Oakland University that just kept me here. Today, I am very pleased with the things we are doing in the Black Faculty Association and honored to receive this award.”

Joining Cooper in this year’s class is Dr. Frances Jackson.

Jackson began her career at OU as a counselor in the School of Nursing and later returned as a faculty member, retiring from OU in 2012 after dedicating 33 years of her professional career to Oakland and its students.

During her time at OU, Jackson chaired the Senate Planning Committee, served two terms on the Senate Steering Committee, served on the AAUP Executive Board and served as the Grievance Officer for the faculty union. In the School of Nursing, she chaired the Nursing Committee on Appointments and Promotions, chaired a dean search committee, and also chaired an accreditation committee. At the time of her retirement, she was director of the master’s and doctoral nursing graduate programs. She is now a Professor Emeritus in the School of Nursing. 

Jackson said she always considered Oakland “a large university, but a small campus.” During her awards acceptance speech, she encouraged members of the BFA not to isolate themselves, participate in as many campus events as possible, and support each other, knowing that everyone in the BFA can be successful in both teaching and mentoring our students.

Oakland University’s Black Faculty Association (BFA), in partnership with Academic Affairs, and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, have jointly sponsored the creation of the Black Faculty Association Legacy Board. This board serves as a tribute to the esteemed Black Faculty Members who have significantly enriched the academic landscape of Oakland University. This year marked the second year of presenting the Legacy Awards.

Members of the Black Faculty Association gathered to celebrate Rose Cooper and Frances Jackson as the newest OU-BFA Legacy Award honorees on October 15, 2024.