Clarksville, TN – In the summer of 2020, following the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, several African American leaders on campus met over Zoom on a Sunday night.
They initially came together to share their pain and frustrations, but the catharsis this online gathering produced led them to a decision – it was time to re-establish the African American Employee Council (AAEC).
The AAEC is in its second year since being re-established and is continuing to expand its work. You can read more about the council at www.apsu.edu/aaec, but here are some recent highlights, written by AAEC chair, Dr. Eva Gibson.
The mission of the African American Employee Council (AAEC) is to promote unity, provide support and build community among Black faculty, staff, and students at APSU.
In addition, through advocacy and collaborative efforts, AAEC exists to enhance communication and champion equity, access, inclusion, opportunity, and social justice — while challenging racism — within the University, with our African-American alumni, and the broader African-American community.
AAEC supports each other through a variety of programming:
The African American Employee Council family kickball game.
Academic Programming
- Beloved Community Writing Retreat (Co-sponsored by the College of Arts & Letters and College of Behavioral & Health Sciences)
- Creating a Voice conference presentation
- Faculty Brown Bag session
Social Events
- Kickball game
- Paint with a twist
- Black History Trivia
Holistic Programming
- Stress & Coping Strategies webinar
- She is Empowered: Women in the Workplace panel
- Vote Talk After Dark webinar
Other accomplishments
- Supported African American Diversity Book Drive (led by APSU student Conchetta Willis)
- Created “Leading Through Black History” acknowledgment series
- Distributed a scholarship in Fall 2021
- Held two virtual town halls
The AAEC is preparing to open nominations for 22-23 officers and planning for another successful year.
