FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas will begin the celebration of Black History Month with an opening program at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, in the Arkansas Union Theatre. The event is free and open to the campus and the Northwest Arkansas community. With a theme of “Celebrating African Heritage at Home and Abroad,” the program is designed to reflect, celebrate and challenge everyone to commemorate the accomplishments of Africans in America since the 1600s.

The featured speaker at the opening program will be Juliana Mosely-Anderson, vice-president for student affairs at Philander Smith College. Mosley-Anderson received a bachelor’s degree in business education and a master’s degree in curriculum and teacher leadership with concentrated studies in urban education from Ball State University. She then received a doctoral degree in educational Leadership from Miami University. Her research interests include black women's leadership, racial identity attitudes of black students and culturally relevant curriculums and communities. Her talk will aim to motivate the constituents of this campus to uphold the torch of pioneers while also committing to new initiatives in the face of the changing demands of the modern era.

A reception will immediately follow in the Anne Kittrell Gallery.

Additional program items include greetings from Chancellor John A. White and Johnetta Cross Brazell, vice chancellor for student affairs, a gospel tribute and inspirational music performance by staff and students, and a liturgical dance performed by UA students Ambre and Avery Cato.

More events are planned throughout the month, and an updated schedule is available at the UA Multicultural Center Web site at http://www.uark.edu/rd_vcsa/samc/575.htm.