Black Excellence

We are celebrating Black History Month at UDP by highlighting African American women leaders who inspire us! They have used their gifts within institutions of higher education, corporate foundations, government and non-profit organizations. With grace, integrity and wisdom, these women have led with the mindset of advancing the collective experience for all.

Although the path for each has looked different, they share similar traits in being trailblazers in industries where women and people of color are few. Here’s a few highlights.

Early in her career, Dr. Reatha Clark King played a pivotal role in America’s space race where her invention of a coiled tube to cool rocket fuel was a advance in the nation’s space program. In 1988, she became the first African American woman to serve as President and Executive Director of the General Mills Foundation.

A lifelong advocate for social justice in fair housing and education, in 1971, Dr. Josie R. Johnson became the first African American woman to serve as a Regent at the University of Minnesota.

Award winning architect Pascale Sablan, FAIA, launched Beyond the Built Environment in 2018, which celebrates the contributions of diverse designers and advocates for equitable built environments and communities. She recently released her first book “Greatness: Diverse Designers of Architecture.”

In 2024, Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, became the first Black women to serve as the 100th President of the American Institute of Architects, which was founded in 1857.

It has been my joy to know these phenomenal women who have lifted others as they have climbed. When faced with systemic barriers and bias, they have excelled by choosing a higher path to make our communities, places where they work and serve better for all. This is what true leadership looks like!

Check out our weekly IG every Friday this month to learn more about Black Excellence.