Welcome and Pinning Ceremony
Saturday, August 19, 2023
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Founders Park, USC University Park Campus
Saturday, August 19, 2023
The USC Black Alumni Association (USC BAA) is one of the first to welcome newly admitted graduate and undergraduate students to the new academic year during our Welcome Pinning and Affirmation Ceremony!
The USC Black Alumni Association Welcome Pinning and Affirmation Ceremony is a cherished tradition open to all newly admitted Black identified undergraduate and graduate students. Noted USC Black Alumni, faculty and staff welcome the newest members of the Trojan family and provide historical context regarding the legacy of USC’s Black Trojans. The ceremony concludes with members of the Black Trojan family “pinning” newly inspired students with the adinkra symbols representing the attributes of the successful Trojan Scholar.
Program
AUGUST 19, 2023 | 10:00 A.M. PDT | FOUNDERS PARK
Drum Performance
Brother Hanif and Uncommon Sense
Welcome / Acknowledgements
Jasmine Taylor ’99
Executive Director, USC Black Alumni Association
Invocation
Rev. Brandon Harris
Associate Dean for Religious and Spiritual Life
Admission Greeting
Dr. Kedra Ishop
Vice President, Enrollment Services
Faculty and Staff Greeting
Kristi Culpepper EdD ’22
Past President, Staff Assembly
Student Life Welcome
Devin Walker
Director of Fraternity and Sorority Leadership Development
Student Welcome
Radiya Ajibade
Assistant Director, Black Student Assembly
USC BAC Student Engagement Committee Welcome
Kathryn A. Shirley MBT ’97
President and CEO, World Management Solutions, Inc. Member,
USC Black Alumni Association Advisory Council
Drum Performance
Libation Ceremony
Opening
Sister Abrafi Sanyika
Founder and Director, The Egyptian Repertoire Company
Libation
Calling of Ancestors
Our Legacy
Simeon Stewart ’92, MBA ’16
CEO, Palazzo Concessions
Past Chair, USC Black Alumni Association Advisory Council
Our Ancestors
Cynthia Heard ’82
COO, Los Angeles Urban League
Member, USC Black Alumni Association Advisory Council
First Black Student
Bryanna Wallace ’19
Global Brand Marketing Manager, DevaCurl
Chair, USC Black Alumni Association Young Professionals Council
First Black Justice in California
Reginald Roberts Jr. JD ’00
Co-Founding Partner, Sanders Roberts LLP
Member, USC Black Alumni Association Advisory Council
First Black Journalism Graduate
Dr. Allissa Richardson
Founding Director, Charlotta Bass Journalism and Justice Lab,
USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
First Black USC All-American
William Poole ’17
Managing Director, Savills
Member, USC Black Alumni Association Advisory Council
First Black California State Bar President
Dr. Isadore Hall ML ’10
Former California State Senator
Member, USC Black Alumni Association Advisory Council
BAA Founder
Daniel Prince ’00, MA ’02
Litigation Vice Chair and Hiring Partner, Paul Hastings President-Elect,
USC Alumni Association Board of Governors
Our SCion Families
Roderick Henley II ’21
Artist Management, Roc Nation
Kindyl Henley
Student, USC Marshall School of Business
Our Relationships
Ayanna Davis ’93, EdD ’17
Vice President, Compton Unified School District Board of Trustees
Our Traits
Kyle Webb MBA ’16
CEO, CEEM Cooperative Economic Empowerment Movement Chair,
USC Black Alumni Association Advisory Council
Affirmation Circle
Jasmine Taylor ’99
Executive Director, USC Black Alumni Association
Closing Remarks
Kyle Webb MBA ’16
CEO, CEEM Cooperative Economic Empowerment Movement Chair,
USC Black Alumni Association Advisory Council