Black Alumni Association (BAA)
Saint Louis University’s Black Alumni Association (BAA) fosters relationships and involvement among our black alumni and minority students. Members also form connections with SLU's black faculty and staff.
About BAA
Formed in 1984, the BAA celebrates the accomplishments of SLU’s black alumni and students through fundraising, mentoring and fostering University-wide diversity outreach and awareness initiatives. Additionally, the BAA assists the University in its recruitment and retention efforts of minority students, helping to create a student population that is racially and ethnically diverse.
Our Mission
The mission of the Black Alumni Association is to:
- Foster Community: Create spaces where alumni and students can celebrate shared experiences, build lasting relationships, and strengthen ties to SLU.
- Support Students: Provide guidance, resources, and opportunities that empower Black and minority students to thrive academically, socially, and professionally.
- Engage Alumni: Encourage alumni involvement through networking events, service opportunities, and partnerships that reflect the values of SLU and the Black community.
- Honor Legacy: Recognize and celebrate the achievements of SLU’s Black alumni, faculty, staff, and students while uplifting the history and contributions of the Black community at SLU.
Our Vision
The Black Alumni Association envisions a vibrant and connected community where Black alumni and students feel supported, represented, and inspired. By bridging generations and building networks of care and opportunity, the BAA seeks to advance equity, belonging, and excellence within SLU and beyond.
BAA Scholarships at SLU
Saint Louis University's Black Alumni Association supports current students via two scholarships.
Established in 2014 by the Black Alumni Association to mark the 70th anniversary of integration at SLU, the Pioneers of Inclusion Endowed Scholarship recognizes the strength and courage of the men and women who became the first black students at the University in 1944. The scholarship honors their legacy by supporting a high-achieving, first-generation college student from a historically underrepresented population in U.S. higher education.
Contribute to this scholarship to ensure its recipients’ continued success at SLU.
For more than three decades, Dr. Celerstine Johnson was dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities for all students, especially those underrepresented in higher education. Her 30 years of service to SLU culminated in her role as associate vice provost for enrollment management.
The Dr. Celerstine Briggs Johnson Book Fund is open to full-time undergraduate students in any major who are enrolled in one of SLU's collegiate Trio Programs, are in good academic standing with the University and demonstrate a financial need.
Funds for the Dr. Celerstine Briggs Johnson Book Fund are raised through individual gifts and revenue from various events. Regardless of the amount, all gifts will help students access necessary educational tools.
About the Black Alumni Association Board
Executive Board
President
MaShyllia Gunn Minor, Ph.D. (A&S '01)
2025 Board Members
- Ornella Balley (A&S ’16)
- Annette Fields (Grad Ed ’14)
- Melissa Hamilton (A&S ’02, Grad A&S ’06)
- Tamara Harris (SSW '10)
- Amy Haymore (DCHS ’10)
- Lydia Huston (PS '18)
- Joshua Johnson (PS '21)
- Darryl Jones (A&S '77)
- Michael F. Jones II, Ph.D. (Ed '16)
- Luella Loseille (A&S '17, '19)
- LaVerne Robinson (PS ’99, Grad PS ’05)
- Deanne Sleet (A&S ’17)
- Alice Stanley (CSB ’74)
- Kiara Webber (CSB '07)
Join the BAA Board
Saint Louis University's Black Alumni Association is looking for alumni volunteers with skills in marketing and communications, planning and development, and finance to serve on its board.
If you are interested in joining or know someone who is interested, contact alumni@slu.edu.