Dawna Jones Named Director Of Duke’s Mary Lou Williams Center For Black Culture
DURHAM, NC – Dawna Jones, an extraordinary leader in community-building and advocacy for Black students, faculty, and staff, is the new Director of the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture (MLW) at Duke University. Jones began her role on August 11.
Dawna comes to Duke from UNC-Chapel Hill, where she was assistant dean of students and adjunct instructor in the Higher Education program. At UNC-Chapel Hill, Dawna has been instrumental in establishing case management protocols, interventions, and coordinated support for undergraduate and graduate students. She has also served as outgoing chair of the Carolina Black Caucus, founding chair of UNC’s Financial Literacy Consortium, and served on the Commission for History, Race, and a Way Forward.
Dawna has held previous positions at West Chester University and is the President of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chapter of the NAACP. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Transformative Leadership for Civic and Community Engagement at North Carolina A&T State University and holds a master’s degree in social work from West Chester University, a master’s degree in higher education management from the University of Pittsburgh, and a bachelor of arts in sociology from Pennsylvania State University. Throughout the search process, Dawna captured everyone’s high regard by focusing on relationship-building, asking thoughtful questions about strategic development for the MLW Center, and placing an emphasis on building collaborative communities of faculty, staff, and students that celebrate Black excellence.
John Brown, Vice Provost of the Arts, chaired the search committee for the position. Vice Provost Brown notes, “Dawna was a standout from day one. Her thoughts and vision aligned with what we need in the person who is to lead the center. I am delighted by her decision to join us. This is indeed something to celebrate.”
Students appreciated her compassionate and relational approach balanced with her understanding of the need for MLW to be a center that meets Black students at the various intersections of identities. In the MLW director role, Dawna will be a member of our Identity and Cultural Center team; partner with faculty and staff to support Black student development; develop innovative training regarding cultural wealth and anti-racism; and support our Black student groups.
Quinton Smith has served as interim director over the past few months. Smith brought steadiness and innovation to MLW at a most challenging time and has been promoted to Associate Director of the Mary Lou William’s Black Cultural Center effective this month. His steadfastness, leadership, innovation, and student focus will continue to have a profound impact on the Duke community, and he and Dawna will have an early focus on hiring several new staff to complement their strategy and vision for “the Lou.”
About the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture
The African American presence in the Duke University undergraduate community began in 1963 and, although it would not be realized for two decades, the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture was born of that moment in history and bears its markings. Established in 1983, The Center remains a safe, welcoming, and supportive space that reflects the core values, culture, mission, and perspectives of Duke’s Black community. The Center was named to honor the great artist—Mary Lou Williams (b. Atlanta, GA, May 8, 1910; d. Durham, NC, May 28, 1981). Williams taught at Duke University as an Artist-in-Residence from 1977 until her death. She is remembered by artists such as Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, and Bud Powell as one whose musical and spiritual contributions were singular and profound.
The Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture at Duke University officially opened in September 1983 with the expressed purpose of 1) preserving and enhancing Black culture at Duke University 2) promote a better understanding and harmony among the races 3) provide a meeting facility for those with an interest in Black culture 4) promote the recruitment of Black students to Duke University by providing a magnet area 5) help motivate the student population and general public to increase their knowledge and understanding of Black culture, and 6) assist Black students in maintaining their self-esteem by promoting cultural pride. For more information, visit www.studentaffairs.duke.edu/mlw