Black Faculty, Staff, and Administrators Association
Draft Form Written by Lee June, August 2020
The Black Faculty, Staff, and Administrators Association (BFSAA) at Michigan State University (MSU) came into existence in the late 1960’s (I think in 1969/needs to be confirmed). It was formed during the height of campus activism to serve as a strong voice and advocate for justice on campus and in support of the recruitment and success of Black faculty, students, staff, and administrators.
The organization was initially called the Black Faculty and Administrators Association. The name was changed to BFSAA to make it explicit that it is composed of and represents the interest of all Black staff on campus. Officers are elected on an annual basis and can serve for consecutives two-year terms.
Past presidents have included George Logan, James Howard, Nell Jackson, Lee June , Maxie Jackson, Gloria Smith, Sam Baker, George Rowan, Venice Smith/ Audrey Bentley (co-chairs), Harold Cowherd, Deborah Sudduth, Matt Anderson, Charles Corley, Eunice Foster, and Stratton Lee (as of 2020) (need to develop the full list).
In advocating for student and staff success, the organization has engaged in numerous activities over the years, including the following:
- Sponsored a Black Seniors’ Recognition Day, later changed to Black Graduating Students Recognition Day ( a forerunner of what is now called The Black Celebratory)
- Annual critiques of the MSU’s Affirmative Action Report (now the Diversity Report)
- Historical and Emerging Leaders Recognition Ceremony
- Dialogue and Donuts (a series of seminars on timely topics of interest)
- Press Conferences
- State News editorials
- Supplying food and other necessities to student participants in the 1989 “study-in”
- Public appearances before the Board of Trustees (note that once during the public participation before the Board, questions were allowed from the Board to the presenters. As a result of those often-heated discussions, the Board changes its rules that forbid interacting with presenters)
- Meetings with top administrators
- Meetings with state legislators
- A Report Card that graded the performance of the President and Provost
- Historical and Emerging Leaders Recognition Ceremony
Now more than 50 years after its founding, BFSAA remains a strong voice on campus
relentlessly moving forward in its advocacy for justice for Black faculty, staff, students, and administrators.